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Book 



LANEHAMS 

LETTER DESCRIBING 

THE 

jiWagmfirrnt IJagrants 

PRESENTED BEFORE 

QUEEN ELIZABETH, 

AT 

KENILWORTH CASTLE 

in 1575; 

REPEATEDLY REFERRED TO IN THE ROMANCE 
OF 

KENILWORTH ; 

WITH AN INTRODUCTORY PREFACE, GLOSSARIAL 
AND EXPLANATORY NOTES. 



" A very diverting Tract, written by as great a Coxcomb as ever 
blotted paper." Keniluorth. 



LONDON: 

PRINTED FOR J. H, BURN, MAIDEN- LANE, 

COVENTGARDEN. 

1821. 



• 'TV L% 



LONDON . 
PRINTED BY S. AND R. BENTLEY, DORSET-STREF.T, 
SALISBURY-SQUARE. 



y>}£ 




KENILWORTH. 



UNTO MY GOOD FRIEND, 
MASTER HUMPHREY MARTIN, Mercer. 




FTER my hearty commenda- 
tions, I commend me heart- 
ily to you. Understand ye, 
that since, through God and 
good friends, I am here placed 
at Court, as you know, in a 
worshipful room, whereby I am not only acquaint- 
ed with the most, and well known to the best, and 
every officer glad of my company ; but also at pre- 
sent have power, while the Council sits not, to go 
and to see things sight-worthy ; and to be pre- 
sent at any show or spectacle, any where this 
progress represented unto her Highness: of 



M 



2 KENILWORTH. 

part of which sports, having taken some notes 
and observations — for I cannot be idle at 
any rate in the world — as well to put from me 
suspicion of sluggishness, as to take from you 
any doubt of my forgetfulness of your friend- 
ship ; I have thought it meet to impart them 
unto you, as frankly, as friendly, and as fully, 
as I can. You know well, the Black Prince 
was never stained with disloyalty of ingratitude 
towards any; I dare be his warrant he will 
not begin with you, that hath at his hand so 
deeply deserved. But herein, the better for 
conceiving of my mind, and instruction of 
you^s, you must give me leave a little, as well 
to preface my matter, as to discourse somewhat 
of Killingworth Castle, a territory of the right 
honourable, my singular good Lord, my Lord 
the Earl of Leicester ; of whose incomparable 
cheer and entertainment there unto her Majesty, 
I will show you a part, here, that could not see 
all ; nor, had I seen all, could well report the 
half. Where things for the persons, place, 
time, cost, devices, strangeness and abundance, 
of all that ever I saw (and yet have I been, what 



KEN1L WORTH. 3 

under my Master Bomsted, and what on my 
own affairs, while I occupied merchandise, both 
in France and Flanders long and many a day,) I 
saw none any where so memorable, I tell you plain. 
The Castle hath the name of Killingworth, but 
of truth, grounded upon faithful story, Kenil- 
worth. It stands in Warwickshire, seventy-four 
miles north-west from London, and as it were 
in the centre of England ; four miles somewhat 
south from Coventry, a proper City ; and a like 
distance from Warwick, a fair County-town on 
the north. Of air sweet and wholesome, raised 
on an easily mounted hill, it is set evenly coasted 
with the front strait to the east, and hath 
the tenants and town about it, that pleasantly 
shift from dale to hill sundry where, with sweet 
springs bursting forth ; and is so plentifully well 
sorted on every side into arable, mead, pasture, 
wood, water, and good air, as it appears to 
have need of nothing that may pertain to living 
or pleasure. To advantage, it hath, hard on the 
west, still nourished with many lively springs, 
a goodly pool of rare beauty, breadth, length, 
depth, and store of all kinds of fresh-water 
b 2 



4 KEN1LW0RTH. 

fish, delicate, great, and fat ; and also of wild 
fowl beside. By a rare situation and natural 
agreement, this pool seems conjoined to the 
Castle, that on the west lays the head, as it 
were, upon the Castle's bosom, embraceth it on 
either side, south and north, with both the arms, 
and settles itself as in a reach a flight-shoot 
broad, stretching forth body and legs a mile 
or two westward: between a fair park on the 
one side, which by the brays is linked to the 
Castle on the south, sprinkled at the entrance 
with a few conies, that for colour and smallness 
of number seem to be suffered more for plea- 
sure than commodity : And on the other side, 
north and west, a goodly chase ; vast, wide, 
large, and full of red-deer and other stately 
game for hunting : Beautified with many delec- 
table, fresh, and shaded bowers, arbours, seats, 
and walks, that with great art, cost, and diligence 
were very pleasantly appointed : Which also the 
natural grace, by the tall and fresh fragrant trees 
and soil, did so far forth commend, as Diana 
herself might have deigned there well enough to 
range for her pastime. 



KENILWORTH. 5 

The left arm of this pool, northward, hath my 
Lcrd adorned with a beautiful bracelet of a fair 
timbered bridge, that is of fourteen feet wide and 
six hundred feet long ; railed on both sides, 
strongly planked for passage, reaching from the 
ch ise to the Castle. That thus in the midst it hath 
clear prospect over these pleasures on the back 
pa"t ; and forward over all the town, and much 
of ;-,he country beside. 

juere, too, is a special commodity at hand of 
sundry quarries of large building stone, the 
goodness whereof may the more easily be judged, 
in the building and ancient stateliness of the 
Castle, that (as by the name and histories well may 
be gathered) was first reared by Kenulph, and his 
young son Kenelm, born both indeed within 
the realm here, but yet of the race of Saxons; 
and reigned Kings of Marchland from the year 
of our Lord 798, for 23 years together, above 
770 years ago; although the Castle hath one 
ancient, strong, and large keep, that is called 
Caesar's Tower, rather, as I have good cause to 
think, for that it is square and high, formed 
after the manner of Caesar's Forts, than that ever 



KKN1LWOKTH. 



he built it. Nay, now that I am a little in, 
Master Martin, I will tell you all. 

This Marchland, that stones c&\\ Mercia, is 
numbered in their books the fourth of the seven 
kingdoms that the Saxons had whilom here 
divided among them in the realm. It began m 
Anno Dom. 616, one hundred and thirty-ni'ip 
years after Horsa and Hengist; continued m 
the race of 17 kings, 249 years together, avid 
ended in Anno 875, raised from the rest (says 
the book) at first by Penda's presumption, o'/pr. 
thrown at last by Buthred's hascardy, and 
so fell to the kingdom of the West-Saxons. 
Marchland had in it London, Middlesex, herein 
a bishopric: had more of shires, Gloucester, 
Worcester, and Warwick, and herein a bishop- 
ric ; Chester (that now we call Cheshire), Derby, 
and Stafford, whereunto one bkhop that had 
also part of Warwick and Shrewsbury, and his 
See at Coventry that was then aforetime at Lich- 
field : Hereto Hereford, wherein a bishopric 
that had more to jurisdiction, half Shrewsbury, 
part of Warwick and also of Gloucester, and the 
See at Hereford : Also had Oxford, Bucking- 



KENILWORTH. 7 

ham, Hertford, Huntingdon, and half of Bed- 
ford ; and to these Northampton, part of Lei- 
cester, and also Lincoln, whereunto a bishop; 
whose See at Lincoln City that sometime before 
was at Dorchester : hereto the rest of Leicester and 
in Nottingham, that of old had a special bishop, 
whose See was at Leicester, but afterwards put 
to the charge of the Archbishop of York. 

Now touching the name, that of old records I 
understand, and of ancient writers I find, is 
called Kenilworth ; since most of the Worths 
in England stand nigh unto like lakes, and are 
either small islands, such one as the seat of this 
Castle hath been and easily may be, or is land- 
ground by pool or river, whereon willows, alders, 
or such like do grow : Which Althamerus writes 
precisely that the Germans call 313[l£?lJ I joining 
these two together with the nighness also of 
the words and sybred of the tongues. I am the 
bolder to pronounce, that as our English Worth, 
with the rest of our ancient language, was left 
us from the Germans, even so that their Werd 
and our Worth is all one thing in signification, 



8 KE NIL WORTH. 

common to us both even at this day. I take the 
case so clear, that I say not so much as I might 
Thus proface ye with the preface ; and now to 
the matter. 

On Saturday the ninth of July, at long 
Ichington, a town and lordship of my Lord's, 
within seven miles of Killingworth, his Honor 
made her Majesty great cheer at dinner, and 
pleasant pastime in hunting by the way after, 
that it was eight o'clock in the evening ere her 
Highness came to Killingworth; where in the 
park, about a flight-shoot from the brays and 
first gate of the Castle, one of the ten Sibyls, that 
we read were all Fatidicce and Theobulce, as 
parties and privy to the Gods'* gracious good 
wills, comely clad in a pall of white silk, 
pronounced a proper poesy in English rhyme 
and metre : of effect, how great gladness her 
goodness' presence* brought into every stead 
where it pleased her to come, and especially 
now into that place that had so long longed after 

* The other of the early copies reads "gracious 
presence." 



KENIL WORTH. 9 

the same ; ending with prophecy certain of 
much and long prosperity, health, and felicity. 
This her Majesty benignly accepting, passed 
forth unto the next gate of the brays, which for 
the length, largeness and use, ( as well it may so 
serve) they call now the tilt-yard, where a porter, 
tall of person, big of limb, and stern of counte- 
nance, wrapped also all in silk, with a club and 
keys of quantity according, had a rough speech 
full of passions, in metre aptly made to the 
purpose : Whereby ( as her Highness was 
come within his ward,) he burst out in a great 
pang of impatience to see such uncouth trudging 
to and fro, such riding in and out, with such din 
and noise of talk within the charge of his office, 
whereof he never saw the like, nor had any 
warning afore, nor yet could make to himself 
any cause of the matter. At last, upon better 
view and avisement, as he pressed to come nearer, 
confessing anon that he found himself pierced at 
the presence of a personage so evidently express- 
ing an heroical sovereignty over all the whole 
estates, and by degrees there beside, calmed his as- 
tonishment, proclaims open gates and free passage 



10 KENIL WORTH. 

to all, yields up his club, his keys, his office and 
all, and on his knees humbly prays pardon of his 
ignorance and impatience ; which her Highness 
graciously granting, he caused his trumpeters that 
stood upon the wall of the gate there, to sound 
up a tune of welcome; which, beside the noble 
noise, was so much the more pleasant to behold, 
because these trumpeters, being six in number, 
were every one eight feet high, in due proportion 
of person beside, all in long garments of silk 
suitable, each with his silvery trumpet of five 
feet long, formed taper- wise, and straight from 
the upper part unto the lower end, where the 
diameter was 16 inches over ; and yet so tempered 
by art, that being very easy to the blast, they 
cast forth no greater noise, nor a more unpleasant 
sound for time and tune, than any other common 
trumpet, be it never so artificially formed. These 
harmonious blasters, from the foreside of the gate, 
at her Highness' entrance, where they began: 
walking upon the walls unto the inner [court], had 
this music maintained from them very delectably, 
while her Highness all along this tilt-yard rode 
unto the inner gate, next the base-court of the 



KEN1LW0RTH. 1 1 

Castle^ where the Lady of the Lake, (famous in 
King Arthur's book) with two nymphs waiting 
upon her, arrayed all in silks, awaited her High- 
ness's coming: From the midst of the pool, where 
upon a movable island, bright blazing with torches, 
she floated to land, and met her Majesty with a 
well-penned metre and matter after this sort: 
[viz.] First, of the ancestry of the Castle, who had 
been owners of the same e'en till this day, most 
always in the hands of the Earls of Leicester ; 
how she had kept this Lake since King Arthur's 
days ; and now, understanding of her Highness's 
hither coming, thought it both her office and 
duty in humble wise to discover her and her 
estate; offering up the same, her lake, and 
power therein, with promise of repair unto 
the Court. It pleased her Highness to thank 
this lady, and to add withall : " We had 
thought indeed the Lake had been ours, and 
do you call it yours now ? Well, we will herein 
commune more with you hereafter." 

This pageant was closed up with a delectable 
harmony of hautboys, shalms, cornets, and such 
other loud music, that held on while her Majesty 



12 KENILWORTH. 

pleasantly so passed from thence toward the 
Castle-gate ; whereunto, from the base-court, over 
a dry valley cast into a good form, there was 
framed a fair bridge of twenty feet wide, and se- 
venty feet long, gravelled for treading, railed on 
either part with seven posts on a side, that stood 
twelve feet asunder, thickened between with 
well-proportioned turned pillars. 

Upon the first pair of posts were set two 
comely square wire cages, three feet long, and 
two feet wide ; and high in them live bitterns, 
curlews, shovelers, hernshaws, godwits, and 
such like dainty birds, of the presents of Sylva- 
nus, the God of fowl. On the second pair two 
great silvered bowls, featly apted to the pur- 
pose, filled with apples, pears, cherries, filberds, 
walnuts, fresh upon their branches, and with 
oranges, pomegranates, lemons, and pippins, all 
for the gifts of Pomona, Goddess of fruits. The 
third pair of posts, in two such silvered bowls, 
had (all in ears green and old) wheat, barley, 
oats, beans, and pease, as the gifts of Ceres. The 
fourth post, on the left hand, in a like silvered 
bowl, had grapes in clusters, white and red, 



KENIL WORTH. 13 

opacified with their vine leaves: The match 
post against it had a pair of great white silver 
livery pots for wine : and before them two glasses 
of good capacity, filled full ; the one with white 
wine, the other with claret, so fresh of co- 
lour, and of look so lovely, smiling to the eye 
of many, that by my faith methought, by their 
leering, they could have found in their hearts, (as 
the evening was hot,) to have kissed them sweetly 
and thought it no sin : And these were the 
potencial presents of Bacchus, the God of wine. 
The fifth pair had each a fair large tray, strewed 
with fresh grass * ; and in them conger, burt, 
mullet, fresh herrings, oysters, salmon, crevis, 
and such like, from Neptunus, God of the sea. 
On the sixth pair of posts were set two ragged 
staves of silver, as my Lord gives them in his 
arms, beautifully glittering of armour, there- 
upon depending bows, arrows, spears, shield, 
head-piece, gorget, corslets, swords, targets, and 
such like, for Mars' gifts, the God of war. And 



* In the other early copy "strewed a little with fresh 
grass. " 



14) KENILWORTH. 

the aptlier (methought) was it that those ragged 
staves supported these martial presents, as well 
because these staves by their tines seem naturally 
meet for the bearing of armour, as also that 
they chiefly in this place might take upon them 
the principal protection of her Highness's person, 
that so benignly pleased her to take harbour. 
On the seventh posts, the last and next to the 
Castle, were there pight two fair bay branches of 
four feet high, adorned on all sides with lutes, 
viols, shalms, cornets, flutes, recorders, and harps, 
as the presents of Phoebus, the God of music, for 
rejoicing the mind, and also of physic, for health 
to the body. 

Over the Castle-gate was there fastened a table 
beautifully garnished above with her Highnesses 
arms, and featly with ivy wreaths bordered about, 
of ten feet square : the ground black, whereupon, 
in large white capital Roman fairly written, was 
a poem mentioning these Gods and their gifts, 
thus presented unto her Highness : which, be- 
cause it remained unremoved, at leisure and plea- 
sure I took it out, as followeth : — 



KENILWORTH. 15 

AD MAJESTATEM REGIAM. 

Jupiter hue certos cernens te tendere gressus, 
Caelicolas Princeps actutum convocat Omnes : 
Obsequium praestare jubet Tibi quenque benignum. 
Unde suas Sylvanus Aves, Pomonaque fructus, 
Alma Ceres fruges, hilarantia vina Liseus, 
Neptunus pisces, tela et tutantia Mavors, 
Suave Melos Phoebus, solidamq; longamq; salutem. 
Dii Tibi Regina hsec (cum sis Dignissima) praebent : 
Hoc Tibi, cum Domino, dedit se et werda Kenelmi. 

All the letters that mention her Majesty, which 
are here put in capitals, for reverence and honour, 
were there made in gold. 

But the night well spent, for that these verses 
by torch-light could easily be read; a poet, there- 
fore, in a long ceruleous garment, with side [i. e. 
long] and wide sleeves, Venetianrwise drawn up 
to his elbow, bis doublet sleeves under that, of 
crimson, nothing but silk ; a bay garland on his 
head, and a scroll in his hand, making first an 
humble obeisance at her Highness's coming, and 
pointing unto every present as he spake, the same 
were pronounced. Thus viewing the gifts, as 



]6 KENILWOETW. 

she passed, and how the posts might agree with 
the speech of the poet : At the end of the bridge 
and entry of the gate, was her Highness received 
with a fresh delicate harmony of flutes, in per- 
formance of Phoebus' presents. 

So passing into the inner court, her Majesty 
(that never rides but alone) there, set down 
from her palfrey, was conveyed up to her cham- 
ber : When after did follow so great a peal of 
guns, and such lightening by fire-work a long 
space together, as though Jupiter would have 
shown himself to be no further behind with his 
welcome than the rest of his Gods : and that 
he would have all the country to know, for in- 
deed the noise and flame were heard and seen 
twenty miles off. Thus much, Master Martin, 
(that I remember me) for the first day's Men 
venu. Be you not weary, for I am scant in the 
midst of my matter. 

On Sunday, the forenoon occupied as for 
the Sabbath-day, in quiet and vacation from 
work, and in divine service and preaching at the 
parish church : the afternoon in excellent music 
of sundry sweet instruments, and in dancing of 



KENILWORTH. 17 

Lords and Ladies, and other worshipful degrees, 
uttered with such lively agility, and commend- 
able grace, as whether it might be more strange 
to the eye, or pleasant to the mind, for my part 
indeed I could not discern ; but it was exceed- 
ingly well, methought, in both. 

At night late, as though Jupiter the last night 
had forgot for business, or forborne for courtesy 
and quiet, part of his welcome unto her High- 
ness appointed, now entering at the first into his 
purpose moderately (as mortals do) with a warn- 
ing piece or two, proceeding on with increase, 
till at last the Altitonant [i. e. High Thunderer,] 
displays me his main power; with blaze of burn- 
ing darts flying to and fro, learns of stars 
coruscant, streams and hail of fiery sparks, light- 
nings of wildfire on water and land, flight and 
shooting of thunderbolts, all with such conti- 
nuance, terror and vehemency, that the hea- 
vens thundered, the waters surged, the earth 
shook, and in such sort surely, as had we not 
been assured that the fulminant Deity was all 
hot in amity, and could not otherwise testify his 
welcome unto her Highness, it would have 
c 



18 KENILW01ITIT. 

made me for my part, as hardy as I am, very 
vengeably afraid. This ado lasted until the 
midnight was passed, that it seemed well with 
me soon after, when I found me in my cabin. 
And this for the second day. 

Monday was hot, and therefore her Highness 
kept in till five o'clock in the evening; what 
time it pleased her to ride forth into the chase 
to hunt the hart of force : which found anon, and 
after sore chased, and chafed by the hot pursuit 
of the hounds, was fain of fine force, at last to 
take soil. There to behold the swift fleeting of 
the deer afore with the stately carriage of his 
head in his swimming, spread (for the quantity) 
like the sail of a ship ; the hounds harrowing 
after as they had been a number of skiffs to 
the spoil of a Carvell : the one no less eager in 
purchase of his prey, than was the other earnest 
in safeguard of his life : so as the yearning of the 
hounds in continuance of their cry, the swift- 
ness of the deer, the running of footmen, the 
galloping of horses, the blasting of horns, 
the hallooing and shouting of the huntsmen, 
with the excellent echoes between whites from 



KENILWORTH. 19 

the woods and waters in valleys resounding ; 
moved pastime delectable in so high a degree 
as for any person to take pleasure by most 
senses at once; in mine opinion, there can be 
none in any way comparable to this: and 
'specially in this place, that of nature is formed 
so fit for the purpose ; in faith, Master Martin, 
if ye could with a wish, I would you had been 
at it : Well, the hart was killed, a goodly deer, 
but so ceased not the game yet. 

For about nine o'clock, at the hither part of the 
chase, where torch light attended, out of the 
woods, in her Majesty's return, there came 
roughly forth Hombre Salvagio [i. e. a Savage 
Man,] with an oaken plant plucked up by the 
roots in his hand, himself foregrown all in moss 
and ivy ; who, for personage, gesture, and 
utterance beside, countenanced the matter to 
very good liking ; and had speech to this effect : 
— That continuing so long in these wild wastes, 
wherein oft had he fared both far and near, yet 
happed he never to see so glorious an assembly 
before : and now cast into great grief of mind, for 
that neither by himself could he guess, nor knew 
c 2 



20 KENIL WORTH. 

where else to be taught, what they should be, or 
who bare estate. Reports, some had he heard of 
many strange things, but broiled thereby so much 
the more in desire of knowledge. Thus, in great 
pangs, bethought he, and called he upon all 
his familiars and companions, the fawns, the 
satyrs, the nymphs, the dryades, and the hama- 
dryades; but none making answer, whereby his 
care the more increasing, in utter grief and 
extreme refuge, called he aloud at last after his 
old friend Echo, that he wist would hide no- 
thing from him, but tell him all, if she were 
here. "Here" (quoth Echo.) " Here, Echo, 
and art thou there ?" (says he) "Ah ! how much 
hast thou relieved my careful spirits with thy 
courtesy onward. Ay me, good Echo, here 
is a marvellous presence of dignity ; what are 
they, I pray thee, who is Sovereign, tell me, I 
beseech thee, or else how might I know ?" " I 
know," (quoth she.) " Knowest thou ?" says 
he ; " marry, that is exceedingly well : Why then, 
I desire thee, heartily show me what majesty, 
^for no mean degree is it) have we here : a 
King, or a Queen ?" "A Queen J" (quoth Echo.) 



KENILWOltTH. 21 

"A Queen P says he, pausing, and wisely viewing 
awhile, " now full certainly seems thy tale to 
be true." And proceeding by this manner of 
dialogue, with an earnest beholding her High- 
ness awhile, recounts he, first, how justly that 
former reports agree with his present sight, 
touching the beautiful lineaments of counte- 
nance, the comely proportion of body, the 
princely grace of presence, the gracious gifts of 
nature, with the rare and singular qualities of 
both body and mind in her Majesty conjoined, 
and so apparent at eye. Then shortly rehears- 
ing Saturday's acts, of SibyVs salutation ; of the 
Porter's proposition ; of his Trumpeters music ; 
of the Lake Lady's oration, and of the seven 
Gods' seven presents, he reported the incredible 
joy that all estates in the land have always of 
her Highness wheresoever she came; ending 
with presage and prayer of perpetual felicity, and 
with humble subjection of him and his, and 
all that they may do. After this sort the 
matter went, with little difference, I guess, sa- 
ving only in this point, that the thing which 
I here report in unpolished prose, was there 



%£ KENILWORTH. 

pronounced in good metre and matter, very 
well endited in rhyme. Echo finely framed, 
most aptly, by answers thus to utter all. And 
I shall tell you, Master Martin, by the mass, 
of a mad adventure — As this Savage, for 
the more submission, broke his tree asunder, 
and cast the top from him, it had almost light 
upon her Highness's horse's head ; whereat 
he startled, and the gentleman much dis- 
mayed. See the benignity of the prince : as 
the footmen looked well to the horse, and he 

of generosity soon calmed of himself "No 

hurt, No hurt," quoth her Highness. Which 
words, I promise you, we were all glad to hear, 
and took them to be the best part of the play. 

Tuesday, pleasant passing of the time with 
music and dancing ; saving that toward night 
it liked her Majesty to walk afoot into the chase 
over the bridge, where it pleased her to stand : 
while upon the pool, out of a barge, finely 
appointed for the purpose, to hear sundry kinds 
of very delectable music ; thus recreated, and 
after some walk, her Highness returned. 

Wednesday, Her Majesty rode into the chase 



KENILWORTH. 23 

a hunting again of the hart of force. The 
deer, after his property, for refuge took the soil ; 
but so mastered by hot pursuit on all parts, 
that he was taken quick in the pool : The 
watermen held him up hard by the head, while 
at her Highnesses commandment, he lost his ears 
for a ransom, and so had pardon for life. 

Thursday, the fourteenth of this July, and 
the sixth day of her Majesty's coming, a great 
sort of Ban-dogs were there tied in the outer 
court, and thirteen bears in the inner. Whoso- 
ever made the pannel, there were enough for a 
quest, and one for challenge an need were. A 
wight of great wisdom and gravity seemed their 
foreman to be, had it come to a jury ; but it fell 
out that they were caused to appear there upon 
no such matter, but only to answer to an 
ancient quarrel between them and the Ban- 
dogs, in a cause of controversy that had long 
depended, been obstinately full often debated, 
with sharp and biting arguments on both 
sides, and could never be decided : grown 
now to so marvellous a malice, that with 
spiteful upbraidings and uncharitable chaffings, 



24 XENIL WORTH. 

always they fret, as any where the one can 
hear, see, or smell the other: and indeed at 
utter deadly feud. Many a maimed member, 
(God wot) bloody face, and a torn coat, hath the 
quarrel cost between them ; so far likely the less 
yet now to be appeased, as there wants not 
partakers to back them on both sides. 

Well, Sir, the bears were brought forth into 
the court, the dogs set to them to argue the 
points even face to face; they had learned 
counsel also on both parts: what, may they be 
counted partial that are retainers but to a side ? 
I ween no. Very fierce both the one and the 
other, and eager in argument: if the dog in 
pleading should pluck the bear by the throat, 
the bear with traverse would claw him again by 
the scalp : Confess an he list, but avoid he could 
not, that was bound to the bar ; and his counsel 
told him that it could be to him no policy in plead- 
ing. Therefore thus with Tending and proving, 
with plucking and tugging, scratching and biting, 
by plain tooth and nail on one side and the other, 
such expense of blood and leather was there 
between them, as a month's licking, I ween, will 



KENILWORTH. 25 

not recover ; and yet remain as far out as ever 
they were. 

It was a sport very pleasant of these beasts ; 
to see the bear with his pink eyes leering after 
his enemies approach, the nimbleness and wait 
of the dog to take his advantage, and the force 
and experience of the bear again to avoid the 
assault: If he was bitten in one place, how he 
would pinch in another to get free ; that if he 
was taken once, then what shift, with biting, with 
clawing, with roaring, tossing and tumbling, he 
would work to wind himself from them ; and when 
he was loose, to shake his ears twice or thrice 
with the blood and the slaver about his physiog- 
nomy, was a matter of a goodly relief. 

As this sport was held at day-time, in the 
Castle, so was there abroad at night very 
strange and sundry kinds of fire-works, compelled 
by cunning to fly to and fro, and to mount very 
high into the air upward, and also to burn 
unquenchably beneath the water, contrary, ye 
wot, to fire's kind : This intermingled with a 
great peal of guns, which all gave both to the 
ear and to the eye the greater grace and delight, 



26 KENILWORTH. 

for that with such order and art they were 
tempered, touching time and continuance, that 
was about two hours space. 

Now, within also, in the mean time, was there 
showed before her Highness, by an Italian, such 
feats of agility, in goings, turnings, tumblings, 
castings, hops, jumps, leaps, skips, springs, 
gambols, summersets, caperings, and flights ; 
forward, backward, sideways, downward, and 
upward, with sundry windings, gyrings and 
circumflexions ; all so lightly and with such 
easiness, as by me, in few words, it is not ex- 
pressible by pen or speech, I tell you plainly. I 
blessed me, by my faith, to behold him ; and 
began to doubt whether it was a man or a spirit ; 
and I ween had doubted me till this day, had it 
not been that anon I bethought me of men 
that can reason and talk with two tongues, and 
with two persons at once, sing like birds, 
courteous of behaviour, of body strong, and in 
joints so nimble withal, that their bones seemed 
as lythie and pliant as sinews. They dwell in a 
happy island (as the book terms it,) four months 



KENILWOllTH. 27 

sailing southward beyond Ethiopia. Nay, Master 
Martin, I tell you no jest ; for both Diodorus 
Siculus, an ancient Greek historiographer, in his 
third book of the acts of the old Egyptians; 
and also from him Conrad Gesnerus, (a great 
and learned man, and a very diligent writer in 
all good arguments of our time, but deceased ;) 
in the first chapter of his Mithridates, report- 
eth the same. As for this fellow, I cannot tell 
what to make of him, save that I may guess 
his back be metalled like a lamprey, that has no 
bone, but a line like a lute-string. Well, Sir, 
let him pass and his feats, and this day's pastime 
withal, for here is as much as I can remember 
me for Thursday's entertainment. 

Friday and Saturday there were no open 
shows abroad, because the weather inclined to 
some moisture and wind, that very seasonably 
tempered the drought and the heat, caused by 
the continuance of fair weather and sunshine all 
the while since her Majesty's thither coming. 

On Sunday, opportunely, the weather broke 
up again ; and after divine service in the parish 



28 KENILWORTH. 

church for the sabbath-day, and a fruitful 
sermon there in the forenoon : At afternoon, in 
worship of this Kenilworth Castle, and of God 
and Saint Kenelm, whose day, forsooth, by 
the Calendar this was, a solemn bridal of a 
proper couple was appointed : Set in order in 
the tilt-yard, to come and make their show 
before the Castle in the great court, where was 
pight a comely Quintain for feats at arms, which 
when they had done, to march out at the north- 
gate of the Castle homeward again into the town. 
And thus were they marshalled. First, all the 
lusty lads and bold bachelors of the parish, 
suitably habited every wight, with his blue 
buckram bride-lace upon a branch of green 
broom (because rosemary is scant there) tied 
on his left arm, for on that side lies the heart ; 
and his alder pole for a spear in his right hand, 
in martial order ranged on afore, two and 
two in a rank : Some with a hat, some in a 
cap, some a coat, some a jerkin, some for 
lightness in doublet and hose, clean truss'd 
with points afore ; Some boots and no spurs, 
this spurs and no boots, and he again nei- 



KEXI I.WORTH. 29 

ther one nor other : One had a saddle, ano- 
ther a pad or a pannel fastened with a cord, 
for girths were geazon : And these, to the num- 
ber of sixteen wights, riding men and well beseen : 
But the bridegroom foremost in his father's tawny 
worsted jacket, (for his friends were fain that 
he should be a bride-groom before the Queen) a 
fair straw hat with a capital crown, steeple-wise on 
his head ; a pair of harvest gloves on his hands, 
as a sign of good husbandry ; a pen and ink- 
horn at his back, for he would be known to be 
bookish : lame of a leg that in his youth was 
broken at foot-ball ; well beloved of his mo- 
ther, who lent him a new muffler for a napkin, 
that was tied to his girdle for losing it. It 
was no small sport to mark this minion in his 
full appointment, that, through good tuition, 
became as formal in his action as had he 
been a bride-groom indeed ; with this special 
grace by the way, that ever as he would 
have framed to himself the better countenance, 
with the worst face lie looked. 

Well, Sir, after these horsemen, a lively 
morrice-dance according to the ancient man- 



30 KENILWCRTII. 

ner: six dancers, maid-marian, and the fool. 
Then three pretty pucelles, as bright as a breast 
of bacon, of thirty years old a-piece; that carried 
three special spice-cakes of a bushel of wheat 
(they had by measure, out of my Lord's bake- 
house) before the bride, Cicely, with set coun- 
tenance and lips so demurely simpering, as it 
had been a mare cropping of a thistle. After 
these, a lovely loober-worts, freckle-faced, red- 
headed, clean trussed in his doublet and his hose, 
taken up now indeed by commission, for that he 
was loath to come forward, for reverence belike of 
his new cut canvas doublet ; and would by his 
good will have been but a gazer, but found to 
be a meet actor for his office ; that was to bear 
the bride-cup, formed of a sweet sucket barrel, a 
fair turn'd foot set to it, all seemly besilvered and 
parcell gilt adorned with a beautiful branch of 
broom, gaily begilded for rosemary : from 
which two broad bride-laces of red and yellow 
buckram begilded, and gallantly streaming by 
such wind as there was, for he carried it 
aloft: this gentle cup-bearer had his freck- 
led physiognomy somewhat unhappily infested, 



KENILWORTH. 31 

as he went, by the busy flies, that flocked about 
the bride-cup, for the sweetness of the sucket 
that it savoured of; but he, like a tall fellow, 
withstood their malice stoutly — see what man- 
hood may do — beat them away, killed them by 
scores, stood to his charge, and marched on in 
good order. 

Then followed the worshipful bride, led, after 
the country manner, between two ancient parish- 
ioners, honest townsmen. But a stale stallion 
and a well spread (hot as the weather was,) God 
wot, and ill-smelling was she: thirty years 
old,* of colour brown-bay, not very beautiful in- 
deed, but ugly, foul, and ill-favored ; yet mar- 
velous fond of the office, because she heard 
say she should dance before the Queen, in which 
feat she thought she would foot it as finely as 
the best : Well, after this bride there came, by 
two and two, a dozen damsels for bride-maids, 
that for favour, attire, for fashion and clean- 
liness, were as meet for such a bride as a tureen 



* The other early copy reads " thirty-five years old. 






32 KENILWORTH. 

ladle for a porridge-pot : More, but for fear of 
carrying all clean, had been appointed, but 
these few were enough. 

As the company in this order were come into 
the court, marvellous were the martial acts that 
were done there that day. The bride-groom, for 
pre-eminence, had the first course at the Quin- 
tain, and broke his spear with true hardiment; but 
his mare in her manege did a little so titubate, 
that much ado had his manhood to sit in his 
saddle, and escape the foil of a fall; With 
the help of his hand, yet he recovered himself, 
and lost not his stirrups (for he had none to his 
saddle.) had no hurt as it happened, but only 
that his girth burst, and lost his pen and ink- 
horn which he was ready to weep for : but his 
handkercher, as good hap was, found he safe at 
his girdle : that cheered him somewhat, and had 
good regard it should not be soiled. For though 
heat and cold had upon sundry occasions made him 
some times to sweat, and sometimes rheumatic, yet 
durst he be bolder to blow his nose and wipe his 
face with the flappet of his father's jacket, than 
with his mother's muffler : 'tis a goodly matter, 



KENILWORTH. 33 

when youth are mannerly brought up, in fatherly 
love and motherly awe^ 

Now, Sir, after the bride-groom had made 
his course, ran the rest of the band a while 
in some order ; but soon after, tag and rag, 
cut and long tail: where the specialty of 
the sport was, to see how some for their 
slackness had a good bob with the bag; and 
some for their haste, too, would topple down- 
right, and come down tumbling to the post: 
Some striving so much at the first setting 
out, that it seemed a question between the man 
and the beast, whether the course should be 
made on horseback or on foot : and put forth 
with the spurs, then would run his race by as 
among the thickest of the throng, that, down 
came they together, hand over head : Another, 
while he directed his course to the quintain, 
his jument would carry him to a mare among 
the people; so his horse was as amorous, as 
himself adventurous: Another, too, would run 
and miss the quintain with his staff, and hit 
the board with his head. 

Many such frolicsome games were there 

D 



34 KENIL WORTH. 

among these riders; who, by and by after- 
wards, upon a greater courage, left their quin- 
taining, and ran at one another. There to see 
the stern countenances, the grim looks, the 
courageous attempts, the desperate adventures, 
the dangerous curvets, the fierce encounters, 
whereby the buff at the man, and the counter- 
bufF at the horse, that both sometimes came 
topling to the ground : By my troth, Master 
Martin, 'twas • a lively pastime ; I believe it 
would have moved a man to a right merry 
mood, though it had been told him that his 
wife lay dying. 

And hereto followed as good a sport, methought, 
presented in an historical cue, by certain good- 
hearted men of Coventry, my Lord's neighbours 
there: who understanding among them the thing 
that could not be hidden from any : how careful 
and studious his Honor was, that by all pleasant 
recreations her Highness might best find herself 
welcome, and be made gladsome and merry, 
(the ground-work indeed and foundation of his 
Lordship's mirth, and gladness of us all,) made 
petition that they might renew now their old storial 



KENILWOKTII. 35 

show : of argument how the Danes whilom here 
in a troublous season were for quietness borne 
withal and suffered in peace, that anon, by 
outrage and unsupportable insolency, abusing 
both Ethelred the King, then, and all estates 
every where beside ; at the grievous complaint 
and counsel of Huna, the King's Chieftain 
in wars, on Saint Brice's night, .Anno Dom. 
1012, (as the book says, that falleth yearly 
on the thirteenth of November) were all dis- 
patched and the Realm rid. And for because 
that the matter mentioneth how valiantly our 
English women, for love of their country, be- 
haved themselves, expressed in action and 
rhymes after their manner, they thought it might 
move some mirth to her Majesty the rather. 
The thing, said they, is grounded in story, and 
for pastime wont to be played in our City yearly : 
without ill example of manners, papistry, or any 
superstition : and else did so occupy the heads 
of a number, that likely enough would have 
had worse meditations: had an ancient begin- 
ning and a long continuance 'till now of late laid 
down, they knew no cause why, unless it was by 
d % 



36 KKNII.WOKTH. 

the zeal of certain of their preachers ; men very 
commendable for their behaviour and learning, 
and sweet in their sermons, but somewhat too 
sour in preaching away their pastime: they 
wished therefore, that as they should continue 
their good doctrine in pulpit, so, for matters of 
policy and governance of the City, they would 
permit them to the Mayor and the Magistrates : 
and said, by my faith, Master Martin, they 
would make their humble petition unto her 
Highness, that they might have their plays up 
again. 

But aware, keep back, make room now, here 
they come — 

And first, Captain Cox, an odd man, I pro- 
mise you : by profession a mason, and that right 
skilful ; very cunning in fence, and hardy as 
Gawain ; for his ton-sword hangs at his table's 
end ; great oversight hath he in matters of story : 
For as for King Arthur s Book ; Huon qfBcur- 
deaux ; The Four Sons of Aymon ; Bevis of 
Hampton ; The Squire of Low Degree ; The 
Knight of Courtesy, and the Lady FagucU ; 
Frederick of Geneva ; Sir Eglamoar ; Sir Tryc- 



XEN1LWORTH. 37 

raour ; Sir Larnwell ; Sir Isenbras ; Sir Ga- 
wain ; Oliver of the Castle ; Lucrece and Eury- 
alus ; VirgiVs Life ; The Castle of Ladies; The 
Widow Edyth; The King and the Tanner; 
Friar Rush ; Howleglas ; Gargantua ; Robin 
Hood ; Adam Bell, Clym of the dough, and 
William of Cloudesley ; The Churl and the 
Bird ; The Seven Wise Masters ; The Wife lapt 
in a MoreVs-skin ; The SacJc T full of News ; 
The Serjeant that became a Friar ; Scogan ; 
Colin Clout ; The Friar and the Boy ; Elynour 
Rumming ; and The Nutbrown Maid ; with 
many more than I rehearse here — I believe he 
hath them all at his fingers ends. 

Then in philosophy, both moral and natural, 
I think he be as naturally overseen; beside 
poetry and astronomy, and other hid sciences, 
as I may guess by the omberty of his books ; 
whereof part, as I remember, The Shepherds Ka- 
lendar ; The Ship of Fools ; DanieVs Dreams ; 
The Book of Fortune ; Stans Puer ad Mensam ; 
The Highivay to the Spittle-house; Julian of 
Brentford 'a Testament ; The Castle of Love ; 
The Budget of Demands ; The Hundred Merry 



38 KENILWOItTH. 

Tales ; The Book of Riddles ; The Seven Sor- 
rows of Women ; The Proud Wives Pater-Nos- 
ter ; The Chapman of a Pennyworth of Wit. 
Besides his ancient plays, Youth and Charity ; 
Hickskorner ; Nugizee ; Impatient Poverty ; 
and herewith Doctor Boord's Breviary of Health. 
What should I rehearse here ; what a bunch of 
ballads and songs, all ancient : as Broom broom 
on Hill ; So woe is me begone, trolly lo ; Over 
a Wliinny Meg; Hey ding a ding; Bonny lass 
upon a green ; My bonny one gave me a beck ; 
By a bank as I lay : and a hundred more he 
hath fair wrapt up in parchment, and bound 
with a whipcord. And as for Almanacs of 
antiquity, (a point for Ephemerides) I ween he 
can show from Jasper Laet of Antwerp unto Nos- 
tradamus of France, and thence unto our John 
Securiz of Salisbury. To stay ye no longer 
herein, 1 dare say he hath as fair a library of 
these sciences, and as many goodly monuments 
both in prose and poetry, and at afternoons can 
talk as much without book, as any inn-holder 
between Brentford and Bagshot, what degree 
soever he be. 



KENILWORTH. 39 

Beside this, in the field a good marshal at 
musters; of very great credit and trust in the 
town here; for he has been chosen ale-conner 
many a year, when his betters have stood by ; 
and hath ever acquitted himself with such esti- 
mation, as to taste of a cup of Nippitate, his 
judgement will be taken above the best in the 
parish, be his nose ne'er so red. 

Captain Cox came marching on valiantly 
before, clean trussed and gartered above the knee, 
all fresh in a velvet cap ( Master Golding lent it 
him,) flourishing with his ton-sword ; and another 
fence-master with him : Thus in the forward 
making room for the rest. After them, proudly 
pricked on foremost, the Danish lance-knights on 
horseback, and then the English : Each with their 
alder pole martially in their hand. Even at the 
first entry, the meeting waxed somewhat warm ; 
that by and by, kindled with courage on 
both sides, grew from a hot skirmish unto a 
blazing battle : first by spear and shield, outra- 
geous in their races as rams at their rut ; with 
furious encounters, that together they tumbled to 
the dust, sometimes horse and man, and after 



40 KENILWORTtf. 

fall to it with sword and target, good bangs 
on both sides. The fight so ceasing, but the 
battle not so ended : then followed the footmen ; 
both the hosts, one after the other : — first 
marching in ranks ; then warlike turning ; then 
from ranks into squadrons ; then into triangles ; 
from that into rings, and so winding out again, 
A valiant Captain of great prowess, as fierce as a 
fox assaulting a goose, was so hardy to give the 
first stroke : then got they so grisly together, that 
great was the activity that day to be seen there on 
both sides : the one very eager for purchase of 
prey, the other utterly stout for redemption of 
liberty : thus, quarrel enflamed the fury on both 
sides : twice the Danes had the better, but at 
the last conflict, beaten down, overcome, and 
many led captive for triumph by our English 
women. 

This was the effect of this show ; that as it 
was handled, made much matter of good pastime, 
brought all, indeed, into the great court, even 
under her Highness's window, to have seen : 
but as unhappy it was for the bride, that came 
thither too soon, ( and yet it was four 



KENIL WORTH. 41 

c/clock,) for her Highness beholding in the cham- 
ber delectable dancing indeed, and therewith the 
great throng and unruliness of the people, was 
cause that this solemnity of bridal and dancing 
had not the full muster that was hoped for. 
Her Highness also saw but little of the Coven- 
try play, and commanded it therefore on the 
Tuesday following to have it full out : as accord- 
ingly it was presented; whereat her Majesty 
laughed well : They were the merrier, and so 
much the more, because her Highness had given 
them two bucks and five marks in money, to make 
merry together : They prayed for her Majesty, 
long happily to reign, and oft to come thither, 
that oft they might see her : And what re- 
joicing upon their ample reward, and what tri- 
umphing upon the good acceptance, they vaunt- 
ed their play was never so dignified, nor ever any 
players before so beatified. 

Thus, tho' the day took an end, yet slipped 
not the night all sleeping away : for as neither 
office nor obsequy ceased at any time to the full, 
to perform the plot his Honor had appointed, 
so after supper was there a play of a very good 



42 KENIL WORTH. 

theme presented : but so set forth, by the actors 
well handling, that pleasure and mirth made it 
seem very short, tho' it lasted two good hours 
and more. But stay, Master Martin, all is not 
done yet. 

After the play, out of hand followed a most 
delicious and (if I may so term it) an ambrosial 
banquet : whereof, whether I might more muse 
at the daintiness, shapes, and the cost ; or else, at 
the variety and number of the dishes (that were 
three hundred), for my part, I could little tell 
then; and now less, I assure you. Her 
Majesty eat smally or nothing; which under- 
stood, the courses were not so orderly served and 
sizely set down, but were, by and by, as disor- 
derly wasted and coarsely consumed; more 
courtly, methought, than courteously : But that 
was no part of the matter : it might please and 
be liked, and do that it came for, then was all 
well enough. 

Unto this banquet there was appointed a 
masque : for riches of array of an incredible 
cost : but the time being so far spent, and very 
late in the night now, was cause that it came not 



KEN IL WORTH. 43 

forth to the show : And thus for Sunday's sea- 
son, having staid you the longer, according to the 
matter, here make I an end : Ye may breathe ye 
awhile. 

Monday the eighteenth of this July, the 
weather being hot, her Highness kept the Castle 
for coolness, 'till about five o'clock, her Majesty 
in the chase hunted the hart (as afore) of force : 
that whether were it by the cunning of the hunts- 
men, or by the natural desire of the deer, or else 
by both ; anon he got him to soil again, which 
raised the accustomed delight : a pastime in- 
deed so entirely pleasant, as whereof at times 
who may have the full and free fruition, can 
find no more satiety (I ween) for the recrea- 
tion, than of their good viands at times for their 
sustenance. 

Well, the game was gotten : and her High- 
ness returning, came there upon a swim- 
ming mermaid, (that from top to tail was 
eighteen feet long,) Triton, Neptune's blaster : 
who with his trumpet formed of a wrinkled 
welk, as her Majesty was in sight, gave sound 
very shrill and sonorous, in sign he had an em- 



44 KENIl.WOUTII. 

bassy to pronounce. Anon her Highness was 
coming upon the bridge, whereunto he made his 

fish to swim the swifter ; he then declared 

" How the supreme salsipotent monarch Nep- 
" tune, the great God of the swelling seas, Prince 
" of profundities, and Sovereign Signor of all 
" lakes, fresh waters, rivers, creeks, and gulphs; 
" understanding how a cruel Knight, one Sir 
" Bruce sans pitie, a mortal enemy unto ladies 
" of estate, had long lain about the banks of this 
" pool, in wait with his bands here, to distress 
" the Lady of the Lake, whereby she had been 
" restrained not only from having any use of 
" her ancient liberty and territories in these 
" parts ; but also of making repair and giving 
" attendance unto you, Noble Queen, (quo"' he) 
" as she would ; she promised, and also should; 
" doth therefore signify, and hereto, of you, as of 
" her good liege and dear friend, make this re- 
" quest, that you will deign but to shew your per^ 
" son toward this pool ; whereby your only pre- 
" sence shall be matter sufficient of abandoning 
" this uncourteous Knight, and putting all his 



KEXILWORTHv 45 

" bands to flight, and also deliver the Lady out 
u of this thraldom. " 

Moving herewith from the bridge, and fleeting 
more into the pool, charged he in Neptune's name 
Molus with all his winds, the waters with his 
springs, his fish and fowl, and all his clients in 
the same, that they ne be so hardy in any force 
to stir, but keep them calm and quiet while 
this Queen be present. At which petition her 
Highness staying, it appeared strait how Sir 
Bruce became unseen, his bands scaled, and the 
Lady*, by and by, with her two Nymphs floating 
upon her moveable Islands, Triton, on his mer- 
maid skimming by, approached towards her 
Highness on the bridge, — as well to declare 
that her Majesty's presence had so graciously 
thus wrought her deliverance, as also to excuse 
her not coming to court as she promised, and 
chiefly to present her Majesty, as a token of 
her duty and good heart, for her Highness 1 re- 
creation, with this gift : which was, Arion, that 
excellent and famous musician ; in tire and 
appointment strange, well seeming to his per- 



46 KENILWORTH. 

son, riding aloft upon his old friend the dolphin, 
that from head to tail was four and twenty feet 
long, and swam hard by these Islands. Here- 
with, Avion, for these great benefits, after a few 
welUcouched words unto her Majesty of thanks- 
giving, in supplement of the same ; began a de- 
lectable ditty of a song well apted to a melodious 
noise; compounded of six several instruments, 
all covert, casting sound from the dolphin's 
belly within: Avion, the seventh, sitting thus 
singing (as I say) without. 

Now, Sir, the ditty in metre so aptly endited 
to the matter, and after by voice deliciously deli- 
vered. The song, by a skilful artist into his parts 
so sweetly sorted,- each part in his instrument 
so clean and sharply touched ; every instrument 
again in his kind so excellently tunable ; and 
this in the evening of the day, resounding from 
the calm waters, where the presence of her 
Majesty, and longing to listen, had utterly 
damped all noise and din ; the whole harmony 
conyeyed in time, tune, and temper thus incom- 
parably melodious ; with what pleasure, (Master 
Martin), with what sharpness of conceit, with 



KENILWORTH. 47 

what lively delight, this might pierce into the 
hearer's hearts, I pray ye imagine yourself, as 
ye may ; for, so God judge me, by all the wit 
and cunning I have, I cannot express, I promise 
you. " Mais j'ai bien vu cela, Monsieur, que fort 
" grande est la pouvoir qu'avoit la tres noble 
" science de Musique sur Tesprit humain." Per- 
ceive ye me? I have told you a great matter 
now : As for me, surely I was lulled in such 
liking, and so loath to leave off, that much ado 
a good while after had I, to find me where I 
was. And take ye this by the way, that for the 
small skill in music that God hath sent me (you 
know it is somewhat), I'll set the more by 
myself while my name is Laneham ; and, grace 
of God, music is a noble art ! 

But stay a while, see a short wit: by troth 
I had almost forgot. This day was a day of 
grace beside, wherein were advanced five gentle- 
men of worship unto the degree of Knighthood ;- 
Sir Thomas Cecil ; son and heir unto the right 
honourable the Lord Treasurer, Sir Henry Cob- 
ham, brother unto the Lord Cobham ; Sir Tho* 
mas Stanhope ; Sir Arthur Basset ; and Sir 



48 KENIL WORTH. 

Thomas Tresham. And also by her Highness 1 
accustomed mercy and charity, nine were cured 
of the painful and dangerous disease called the 
King's Evil ; for that Kings and Queens of this 
Realm, without other medicine, save only by 
handling and prayers, do cure it : Bear with 
me, though perchance I place not those gentle- 
men in my recital here, after their estates ; for 
I am neither a good herald of arms, nor yet 
know how they are set in the subsidy books : 
men of great worship I understand they are all. 

Tuesday, according to commandment, came 
our Coventry men. What their matter was, of 
her Highness 1 mirth and good acceptance, and 
reward unto them, and of their rejoicing thereat, 
I have informed you before, and so say the 
less now. 

Wednesday, in the forenoon, preparation was 
in hand for her Majesty to have supped in 
Wedgenall, three miles west from the Castle, a 
goodly Park of the Queen's Majesty.* For 



* The Duchess of Portland's copy reads " a goodly 
park of the right honourable my very good Lord the 



KENILW011TH. 49 

that cause a fair pavilion, and other provision 
was accordingly thither sent and prepared : but 
by means of the weather not so clearly disposed, 
the matter was countermanded again. Had 
her Highness happened this day to have come 
abroad, there was made ready a device of God- 
desses and Nymphs, which, as well for the inge- 
nious argument, as for the well handling of it in 
rhyme and enditing, would undoubtedly have 
gained great liking, and moved no less delight. 
Of the particularities whereof, however, I cease 
to entreat, lest like the bungling carpenter, by 
mis-sorting the pieces, I mar a good frame in the 
bad setting up ; or by my bad tempering before- 
hand, blemish the beauty, when it should be 
reared up indeed. This day also was there such 
earnest talk and appointment of removing, that 
I gave over my noting, and hearkened after my 
horse. 

Marry, Sir, I must tell you : As all endeavour 



Earl of Warwick." It still belongs to that noble family, 
and is now called Wedgnock Park. — Nichols's Progresses, 
1788, Vol. 1. 



50 KENILWORTRV 

was to move mirth and pastime (as I told you), 
even so, a ridiculous device of an ancient min- 
strel and his song, was prepared to have been 
proffered, if meet time and place had been found 
for it. Once in a worshipful company, where I 
chanced to be> full appointed, he recounted his 
matter in sort as it should have been uttered. 
What I noted, here thus, I tell you. — 

A person very meet seemed he for the pur- 
pose, of forty-five years old, appareled partly as 
he would himself. His cap of his head, seemly 
rounded tonsor-wise ; fair combed, that with a 
sponge daintily dipped in a little capon's grease 
was finely smoothed, to make it shine like a 
mallard's wing. His beard smugly shaven ; and 
yet his shirt after the new trick, with ruffs fair 
starched, sleeked and glistering like a pair of 
new shoes; marshaled in good order with a 
setting-stick, and stout that every ruff stood 
up like a wafer. A side gown of Kendal green, 
after the freshness of the year now ; gathered at 
the neck with a narrow gorget, fastened afore 
with a white clasp, and a keeper, close up to the 
chin ; but easily for heat to undo when he list, 



KENILWORTH. 51 

seemly begirt in a red Cadiz girdle ; from that 
a pair of capped Sheffield knives hanging to 
a side : Out of his bosom drawn forth a lap- 
pet of his napkin, edged with blue lace, and 
marked with a truelove [knot], a heart, and a D. 
for Damian, for he was but a batchelor yet. 

His gown had side [i. e. long] sleeves down 
to mid-leg, slit from the shoulder to the hand, 
and lined with white cotton. His doublet-sleeves 
of black worsted ; upon them a pair of poignets 
[i.e. wristbands] of tawny camblet, laced along the 
wrist with blue threaden points ; a welt toward 
the hand of fustian-a-napes : a pair of red 
nether-stocks ; a pair of pumps on his feet, 
with a cross cut at the toes for corns; not new 
indeed, yet cleanly blacked with soot, and shin- 
ing as a shoe-ing horn. About his neck, a red 
ribband suitable to his girdle. His harp in good 
grace dependent before him ; his wrest tied to a 
green lace and hanging by. Under the gorget 
of his gown, a fair flaggon chain of pewter 
(for silver), as a Squire Minstrel of Middlesex; 
that travelled the country this summer sea- 
son unto fairs, and worshipful men's houses. 
e 2 



52 KENIL WORTH. 

From his chain hung an escutcheon, with metal 
and colour, resplendent upon his breast, of the an- 
cient arms of Islington : Upon a question whereof, 
he, as one that was well schooled, and conned his 
lesson perfect without book to answer at full, if 
question were asked him, declared : " How the 
" worshipful village of Islington in Middlesex, 
" well known to be one of the most ancient and 
" best towns in England next London at this 
" day, for the faithful friendship of long time 
" shown, as well at Cook's feast in Aldersgate- 
" street yearly upon Holy-rood day, as also at 
" all solemn bridals in the city of London all 
" the year after ; in well serving them of fur- 
" mety for porridge, not oversodden till it be 
" too weak: of milk for their flawnes, not 
" pild nor chalked ; of cream for their custards, 
a not frothed nor thickened with flour ; and of 
" butter for their pasties and pie-paste, not made 
" of well curds, nor gathered of whey in sum- 
" mer, nor mingled in winter with salt-butter 
u watered or washed ; did obtain long ago, these 
" worshipful arms in colour and form as you see : 
" which are — The arms: a field Argent, as the 



KENIL WORTH. 53 

" field and ground indeed wherein the milk-wives 
" of this worthy town, and every man else in his 
" faculty doth trade for his living. On a fess 
" tennS, three plates between three milk-tan - 
" kards proper. The three milk-tankards, as 
" the proper vessels wherein the substance and 
" matter of their trade is to and fro transported. 
" The fess tenne, which is a colour betokening 
u doubt and suspicion ; so as suspicion and good 
" heed-taking, as well to their markets and ser- 
" vants, as to their customers that they trust 
" not too far, may bring unto them plates, that 
" is coined silver ; three, that is sufficient and 
" plenty ; for so that number in armory may 
" well signify. 

" For crest, upon a wad of oat-straw for a 
" wreath, a bowl of furmety. Wheat (as you 
" know) is the most precious gift of Ceres ; and 
" in the midst of it, sticking, a dozen of horn 
" spoons in a bunch, as the instrument meetest 
" to eat furmety porridge withal : a dozen, as a 
" number complete for full cheer or a banquet ; 
" and of horn, as of a substance more estimable 
" than is made for a great deal ; being neither 



54 KENILW0RTH. 

" so churlish in weight, as metal ; nor so fro- 
" ward and brittle to manure, as stone ; nor yet 
" so soily in use, nor rough to the lips, as wood ; 
" but light, pliant, and smooth; that with a 
" little licking, will always be kept as clean as 
" a die. With your patience, Gentlemen, 1 ' 
(quoth the Minstrel) " be it said ; were it not 
" indeed that horns be so plenty, horn ware, 1 
" believe, would be more set by than it is; and 
" yet there are in our parts, those that will not 
" stick to avow, that many an honest man, both 
" in city and country, hath had his house by 
" homing well upholden, and a daily friend 
u also at need : And this with your favour may 
" I further affirm ; a very ingenious person was 
" he, that for dignity of the stuff, could thus by 
" spooning devise to advance the horn so near 
" to the head. With great congruity also were 
** these horn-spoons put to the wheat ; as a 
u token and portion of Cornucopice, the horn of 
" Achelous; which the Maiades did fill with all 
" good fruits, corn, and grain ; and afterwards 
" did consecrate unto abundance and plenty. 
" This scutcheon with beasts, very aptly 



KENILWORTH. 5% 

" agreeing both to the arms and to the trade of 
" the bearers ; gloriously supported. Between 
" a grey mare, (a beast meetest for carrying of 
" milk-tankards) her pannel on her back, as al- 
" ways ready for service at every feast and 
" brid-ale at need ; her tail displayed at most 
" ease; and her filly foal, with a fallow and 
" flaxen mane after the sire. 

" In the scroll undergraven (quoth he) is 
" there a proper word, an hemistich, well squar- 
" ing with all the rest, taken out of Salerne's 
" chapter of things that most nourish man's 
" body : Lac, Caseus irifans. That is : 6 good 
" milk, and young cheese.' And thus much, 
" Gentlemen, an please you (quoth he) for the 
" arms of our worshipful town :" And there- 
withal made a mannerly leg, and so held his 
peace. 

As the company paused, and the minstrel 
seemed to gape after praise for his beau parle : 
and because he had rendered his lesson so well, 
says a good fellow of the company, " I am sorry 
" to see how much the poor Minstrel mistakes 
" the matter ; for indeed the arms are thus :— 



56 



KE NIL WORTH. 



" Three milk-tankards proper, in a field of 
" clouted cream, three green cheeses upon a 
" shelf of cake-bread. The furmety bowl and 
" horn-spoons ; cause their profit comes all by 
" horned beasts. Supported by a mare with a 
" galled back, and therefore still covered with 
" a pannel, fisking with her tail for flies, 
" and her filly foal neighing after the dam for 
" suck. The words Lac, Caseus infans, that 
" is, a fresh cheese and cream, the common cry 
" that these milk-wives make in London streets 
" yearly betwixt Easter and Whitsuntide: and 
u this is the very matter, I know it well enough :" 
and so ended his tale and sat him down again. 

Hereat every man laughed much, save the 
Minstrel; that though the fool was made privy 
all was but for sport, yet to see himself thus 
crossed with a contrary cue that he looked not 
for, would strait have given over all, and waxed 
very wayward, eager, and sour : howbeit at last, 
by some entreaty and many fair words, with 
sack and sugar, we sweetened him again ; and 
afterward he became as merry as a pye. Ap- 
pearing then afresh, in his full formality, with a 



KENILWOKTH. 57 

lovely look ; after three lowly courtesies, cleared 
his voice with a hem and reach, and spat out 
withal ; wiped his lips with the hollow of his 
hand, for filing his napkin ; tempered a string 
or two with his wrest, and after a little warb- 
ling on his harp for a prelude, came forth with 
a solemn song, warranted for story out of King 
Arthur's acts, the 1st book and 26th chapter, 
whereof I got a copy ; and that is this, viz. 

THE MINSTREL^ SONNET. 

So it befell upon a Pentecost day, 

When King Arthur at Camelot kept court royal, 

With his comely Queen, dame Guenever the gay, 

And many bold Barons sitting in hall ; 

Ladies apparelled in purple and pall, 

When Heralds in hukes herried full by, 

Largess, Largess, Chevaliers tres hardy! 

A doughty dwarf unto the uppermost deas 
Right pertly 'gan prick, and kneeling on knee, 
With Steven full stout amidst all the press, 
Said, Hail, Sir King, God thee save, and see 
King Ryence of North-Wales greeteth well thee, 



58 KENILWORTH. 

And bids that thy beard anon thou him send, 
Or else from thy jaws he will it off rend. 

For his robe of state, a rich scarlet mantle, 
With eleven kings' beards bordered about, 
He hath made late, and yet in a cantle 
Is left a place the twelfth to make out, 
Where thine must stand, be thou never so stout ; 
This must be done, I tell thee no fable, 
Maugre the pow'r of all thy Round Table. 

When this mortal message from his mouth was 

past, 
Great was the bruit in hall and in bow'r ; 
The King fumed, the Queen shrieked, Ladies were 

aghast, 
Princes puff'd, Barons blustered, Lords began to 

lour, 
Knights stamped, 'Squires startled as steeds in a 

stour, 
Yeomen and Pages yell'd out in the hall, 
When herewith came in Sir Kay, Seneschal. 

" Silence, my sufferaunce, "quoth the courteousKnight, 
And in that stound the charm became still ; 



KENIL WORTH. 59 

The Dwarf's dinner full dearly was dight, 
For wine and wassail he had at his will ; 
And when he had eaten and fed his fill, 
One hundred pieces of coined gold 
Were given the Dwarf for his message bold. 

" Say to Sir Ryence, thou Dwarf," quoth the King, 
" That for this proud message I him defy, 
And shortly with basons and pans will him ring 
Out of North Wales ; whereas he and I 
With swords, and no razors, shall utterly try 
Which of us both is the better barber :" 
And therewith he shook his sword Excaliber ! 

At this the Minstrel made a pause and a 
courtesy for primus passus. More of the song 
there is, but I got it not. As for the matter, 
had it come to the shew, I think the fellow 
would have handled it well enough. 

Her Highness tarried at Kenil worth till the 
Wednesday after, being the 27th of this July, 
and the nineteenth inclusive of her Majesty's- 
coming thither ; for which seven days, perceiv- 
ing my notes so slenderly answering, I took it 
less blame to cease, and thereof to write you 



60 KENILWORTil. 

nothing at all, than in such matters to write 
nothing likely ; and so much the rather, (as I 
have well bethought me) that if I did but ru- 
minate the days I have spoken of, I shall bring 
out yet somewhat more meet for your appetite, 
(though a dainty tooth have ye) which I believe 
your tender stomach will brook well enough. 

Whereof part is, first, how according to her 
Highness"' name Elizabeth, which I hear say, 
out of the Hebrew signifieth, among other, the 
seventh of my God; divers things here did so 
justly in number square with the same. As 
first, her Highness hither coming in this seventh 
month ; then presented with the seven pre- 
sents of the seven Gods ; and after, with the 
melody of the seven sorted music in the dol- 
phin, the Lake-Lady's gift. Then, too, consider 
how fully the Gods, as it seemed, had conspired 
most magnificently in abundance to bestow their 
influences and gifts upon her Court, there to make 
her Majesty merry. 

Sage Saturn himself in person (that because 
of his lame leg could not so well stir) in chair, 
therefore to take order with the grave officers of 



KEN1LW011TH. 61 

the household, holpen indeed with the good ad- 
vice of his prudent niece Pallas, that no unruly 
body, or disquiet, disturb the noble assembly, or 
else be once so bold to enter within the Castle 
gates. Away with all rascals, captives, melan- 
cholic, wayward, froward conjurers and usurers, 
and to have labourers and under-workmen for 
the beautifying of any place, always at hand as 
they should be commanded. 

Jupiter sent personages of high honour 
and dignity ; Barons, Lords, Ladies, Judges, 
Bishops, Lawyers, and Doctors; with them, 
Virtue, Nobleness, Equity, Liberality, and Com- 
passion ; due season, and fair weather ; saving 
that, at the petition of his dear sister Ceres, he 
granted a day or two of some sweet showers for 
ripening of her corn that was so well set, and to 
get forward harvest. Herewith bestowed he such 
plenty of pleasant thunder, lightning, and thun- 
derbolts, by his halting son and fire-master 
Vulcan, still fresh and fresh framed, always so 
frequent, so intellable, and of such continuance 
in the spending (as I partly told ye) consumed, 
that surely he seems to be as of power inestim- 



62 KENILWOItTH. 

able ; so, in store of munition, unwasteable ; for 
all OvicTs censure that says, 

Si quoties peccant homines sua fulmina mittat 
Jupiter, exiguo tempore inermis erit. 

If Jove should shoot his thunderbolts, as oft as men 

offend, 
Assure you his artillery would soon be at an end ! 

What a number of estates and of nobility had 
Jupiter assembled there, guess you by this, 
that of sort worshipful there were in the Court 
daily above forty, whereof the meanest of a 
thousand marks yearly revenue, and many of 
much more. This great gift beside did his 
Deity confer upon her Highness — to have fair and 
seasonable weather at her own appointment ; ac- 
cording whereunto her Majesty so had. For 
her gracious presence, therefore, with this great 
gift endowed, Lichfield, Worcester, and Mid- 
dleton, with many places more, made humble 
suit unto her Highness to come ; to such whereof 
as her Majesty could, it came, and they season 
acceptable. 



KENJLWOKTH. 63 

Phoebus, beside his continual and most deli- 
cious music, (as I have told you) appointed he 
Princes to adorn her Highness' court, Counsel- 
lors, Heralds, and sanguine Youth, pleasant 
and merry, costly garments, learned physicians, 
and no need of them. 

Juno, Gold chains, ouches, jewels of great 
price and rich attire worn in much grace and 
good beseeming, without pride or emulation of 
any. 

Mars, Captains of good conduct, men skilful 
in feats of arms, politic in stratagems, of good 
courage in good quarrels, valiant and wise- 
hardy ; abandoning pique- quarrels and ruffians : 
appointing also pursuivants, couriers, and posts, 
still feeding her Highness with news and intelli- 
gences from all parts. 

Venus, Unto the Ladies and Gentlewomen, 
beauty, good favour, comeliness, gallant attire, 
dancing with comely grace, sweet voice in 
song and pleasant talk, with express command- 
ment and charge unto her son, on her blessing, 
that he shoot not a shaft in the Court all the 
while her Highness remained at Kenil worth. 



64 KENILWORTH. 

■ Mercury ; Learned men in sciences ; Poets, 
Merchants, Painters, Carvers, Players, En- 
gineers, Devicers, and dexterity in handling of 
all pleasant attempts. 

Luna, Calm nights for quiet rest, and silver 
moonshine, that nightly indeed shone for most 
of her Majesty's being there. 

Blind Plutus, Bags of Money, Customers, 
Exchangers, and Bankers, with store of riches 
in plate and in coin. 

Bacchus, Full cups every where, every hour 
of all kinds of wine. There was no dainty that 
the sea could yield, but Neptune (though his 
reign at the nearest lay well nigh a hundred 
miles off) did daily send in great plenty, sweet 
and fresh. As for fresh-water fish, the store of 
all sorts was abundant. 

And how bountiful Ceres in provision was, 
guess ye by this, that in little more than three 
days space, seventy-two tuns of ale and beer were 
piped up quite; what that might, whilst with it, 
of bread beside meat, I report me to you: and yet 
the Master Comptroller, Master Cofferer, and 
divers Officers of the court, some honourable and 



KENILWORTH. 65 

sundry right worshipful were placed at Warwick, 
for more room in the Castle. But here was no 
ho ! Master Martin, in devout drinking alway ; 
that brought lack unlooked for ; which being 
known to the worshipful my lord's good neigh- 
bours, came there in two day's space, from 
sundry friends, a relief of forty tuns, till a new 
supply was got again : and then to our drinking 
afresh as fast as ever we did. 

Flora, Abroad and within the house, minister- 
ed of flowers so great a quantity, of such sweet 
savour, so beautifully hued, so large and fair 
proportion, and of such strange kinds and 
shapes, that it was great pleasure to see : and so 
much the more, as there was great store of 
others that were counterfeit, and formed of 
feathers by art ; alike glorious to the show, as 
were the natural. 

Proteus, His tumbler, that could by nim- 
bleness cast himself into so many forms and 
fashions. 

Pan, His merry morrice-dance, with their 
pipe and tabor. 

p 



66 KENIL WORTH. 

Bellona, Her Quintain Knights, and proper 
bickerings of the Coventry men. 

Polyphemus, Neptune's son and heir : (let 
him I pray, an it be but for his father's sake 
and for his good will, be allowed for a God,) 
with his bears, his bear-whelps, and ban-dogs. 

jEolus, Holding up his winds, while her 
Highness at any time took pleasure on the 
water, and staying of tempests during her 
abode here. 

Sylvanus, Besides his plentiful provision of 
fowl for dainty viands, his pleasant and sweet 
singing birds : whereof I will show you more 
anon. 

Echo, Her well endited dialogue. 

Faunus, His jolly savage. 

Genius loci, His tempering of all things 
within and without, with apt time and place to 
pleasure and delight. 

Then the three Charites : [or Graces] Aglaia, 
with her lightsome gladness; Thalia, her flourish- 
ing freshness ; Euphrosyne, her cheerfulness of 
spirit: and with these three in one assent, Concor- 
dia, with her amity and good agreement. That to 



KEXILWORTH. 67 

how great effect their powers were poured out 
here among us, let it be judged by this, that by 
a multitude thus met of three or four thousand 
every day ; and divers days more, of so sun- 
dry degrees, professions, ages, appetites, dis- 
positions and affections; such a drift of time 
was there passed, with such amity, love, pastime, 
agreement, and obedience where it should ; and 
without quarrel, jarring, grudging, or (that I 
could hear) of ill words between any. A thing, 
Master Martin, very rare~and strange, and yet 
no more strange than true. 

The Parcce, [or Fates] as erst I should have 
said, the first night of her Majesty's coming, they 
hearing and seeing so precious ado here at a 
place unlooked for, in an uplandish country so 
far within the realm : pressing into every stead 
where her Highness went, whereby so duddled 
with such variety of delights, did set aside their 
huswifery, and could not for their hearts tend 
their work a whit. But after they had seen 
her Majesty a-bed, got them a prying into every 
place • Old hags ! as fond of novelties as young 
girls that had never seen Court before : but 
f 2 



G8 KENIL WORTH. 

neither full with gazing, nor weary with gadding; 
left off yet for that time, and at high midnight 
gat them giggling, (but not aloud) in the Presence 
Chamber: minding indeed, with their present 
diligence, to recompense their former slackness. 

So, setting themselves thus down to their work, 
" Alas ! " says Atropos, "I have lost my sheers :" 
Lachesis laughed apace and would not draw a 
thread : i( And think ye, dames, that I'll hold the 
distaff, while both ye sit idle? Why, no, by 
my mother's soul," quoth Cloiho. Therewith, 
carefully lapped in fine lawn, the spindle and 
rock, that was dizened with pure purple silk, laid 
they safely up together ; that of her Majesty's 
distaff, for eighteen days, there was not a thread 
spun, I assure you. The two sisters after that 
(I heard say) began their work again, that long 
may they continue : but Atropos heard no tiding 
of her sheers, and not a man that moaned her loss. 
She is not beloved surely ; for this can I tell you, 
that whether it be for hate to the hag, or love to 
her Highness, or else for both, every man prays 
God she may never find them for that work ; and 
so pray I daily and duly with the devoutest. 



KENIL WORTH. 69 

Thus partly you perceive now, how greatly 
the Gods can do for mortals, and how 
much always they love where they like : that 
what a gentle Jove was this, thus courteously 
to contrive here such a train of Gods? Nay 
then rather, Master Martin, to come out of 
our poeticalities, and to talk on more serious 
terms, what a magnificent Lord may we justly 
account him, that could so highly cast order 
for such a Jupiter and all his Gods beside : 
that none with his influence, good property, or 
present, were wanting ; but always ready at 
hand, in such order and abundance for the 
honouring and delight of so high a Prince, our 
most gracious Queen and Sovereign. A Prince 
(I say) so singular in pre-eminence, and worthi- 
ness above all other Princes and Dignities of our 
time : though I make no comparison to years 
past, to him that in this point, either of ig- 
norance — (if any such can be), or else of ma- 
levolence, would make any doubt : sit liber Judex 
(as they say) ; let him look on the matter, and 
answer himself, he has not far to travel. 



70 KENILWORTH. 

As for the amplitude of his Lordship's mind, 
albeit that I, poor soul, can in conceit no more 
attain unto, than judge of a gem whereof I have 
no skill : yea, though daily worn and resplendent 
in mine eye ; yet some of the virtues and pro- 
perties thereof, in quantity, or quality, so appa- 
rent as cannot be hidden, but seen- of all men, 
might I be the bolder to report here unto you ; 
but as for the value, your jewellers by their 
carats let them cast, an they can. 

And first, who that considers unto the stately 
seat of Kenil worth Castle, the rare beauty of build- 
ing that his Honor hath advanced, all of the 
hard quarry-stone: every room so spacious, so 
well belighted, and so high roofed within : so 
seemly to sight by due proportion without ; In 
day-time on every side so glittering by glass ; 
at nights, by continual brightness of candle, fire, 
and torch-light, transparent thro'' the lightsome 
windows, as it were the Egyptian Pharos relu- 
cent unto all the Alexandrian coast: or else, 
(to talk merrily with my merry friend,) thus ra- 
diant, as though Phoebus for his ease would rest 
him in the Castle, and not every night so to travel 



KENILWORTH. 71 

down unto the Antipodes. Here, too, so fully 
furnished of rich apparel and utensils apted in all 
points to the best. 

Unto this, his Honor's exquisite appoint- 
ment of a beautiful garden, an acre or more in 
quantity, that lieth on the north there : Wherein 
hard all along by the Castle wall, is reared a 
pleasant terrace, ten feet high, and twelve feet 
broad, even under foot, and fresh of fine grass ; 
as is also the side thereof towards the garden : In 
which, by sundry equal distances, with obelisks, 
and spheres, and white bears, all of stone upon 
their curious bases, by goodly shew were set ; To 
these, two fine arbours redolent by sweet trees 
and flowers, at each end one, the garden plot 
under that, with fair alleys, green by grass, even 
voided from the borders on both sides, and some 
(for change) with sand, not light, or too soft, or 
soily by dust, but smooth and firm, pleasant to 
walk on, as a sea-shore when the water is avail- 
ed. Then, much gracified by due proportion of 
four even quarters : in the midst of each, upon a 
base of two feet square, and high, seemly bor- 
dered of itself, a square pilaster rising pyramidi- 



72 KEN1LW0KTH. 

tally fifteen feet high. Symmetrically pierced 
through from a foot beneath to two feet of the 
top : whereupon, for a capital, an orb of ten 
inches thick ; every of these, with its base, 
from the ground to the top, of one whole piece ; 
hewn out of hard porphyry, and with great art 
and heed (think me) thither conveyed and there 
erected. Where, further also, by great cast 
and cost, the sweetness of savour on all sides, 
made so respirant from the redolent plants and 
fragrant herbs and flowers, in form, colour, 
and quantity so deliciously variant ; and fruit- 
trees bedecked with apples, pears, and ripe 
cherries. 

And unto these, in the midst, against the 
terrace : a square cage, sumptuous and beautiful, 
joined hard to the north wall, (that on that side 
guards the garden, as the garden the Castle) of 
a rare form and excellency was raised : in height 
twenty feet, thirty long, and fourteen broad. 
From the ground strong and close, reared breast- 
high, whereat a framing of a fair moulding was 
couched all about : from that upward, four great 
windows, in front, and two at each end, every 



KEN1LWORTH. 73 

one five feet wide, as many more even above 
them, divided on all parts by a transom and 
architrave, so likewise ranging about the cage. 
Each window arched at the top, and parted from 
the other at even distances by flat fair bolteld 
columns, all in form and beauty alike, these 
supported a comely cornice couched all along 
upon the bole square. Which with a wire net, 
finely knit, of meshes six square, an inch wide (as 
it were for a flat roof) and likewise the space of 
every window with great cunning and comeliness, 
even and tight was all over-strained. Under the 
cornice again, every part beautified with great 
diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and saphires: point- 
ed, tabled, rock and round, and garnish'd with 
gold ; by skilful head and hand, and by toil and 
pencil so lively expressed, as it might be great mar- 
vel and pleasure to consider how near excellency 
of Art could approach unto perfection of Nature. 
Bear with me, good countryman, though 
things be not showed here as well as I would, or 
as well as they should. For indeed I can better 
imagine and conceive that which I see, than well 
utter, or duly declare it. Holes were there also 



74 KENILWOHTH. 

and caverns in orderly distances and fashion, 
voided into the wall, as well for heat, for coolness, 
for roost at nights and refuge in weather, as also 
for breeding when time is. More ; fair, even, and 
fresh holly trees for perching and pruning, set 
within, toward each end one. 

Here, too, their diversity of meats, their fine 
several vessels for their water and sundry grains ; 
and a man skilful and diligent to look to them 
and tend them. 

But, shall I tell you, of the silver sounded lute, 
without the sweet touch of hand ; the glorious 
golden cup, without the fresh fragrant wine ; or 
the rich ring with gem, without the fair featured 
finger ; is nothing, indeed, in his proper grace and 
use: even so his Honor accounted of this mansion 
''till he had placed there tenants according. 
Had it, therefore, replenished with lively Birds, 
English, French, Spanish, Canarian, and I am 
deceived if I saw not some African. Whereby, 
whether it became more delightsome in change of 
tunes, and harmony to the ear; or else in difference 
of colours, kinds, and properties to the eye, 111 
tell you, if I can, when I have better bethought me. 



KENILWORTH. 75 

One day, Master Martin, as the garden door 
was open, and her Highness hunting, by licence 
of my good friend Adrian, I came in at a beckon, 
but would scant out with a thrust : for sure I 
was loath so soon to depart. Well may this, 
Master Martin, be somewhat to magnitude of 
mind, but more thereof as ye shall know, more 
cause ye shall have so to think : hear out what 
I tell you, and tell me when we meet. 

In the centre, as it were, of this goodly gar- 
den, was there placed a very fair fountain, cast 
into an eight-square, reared four feet high; 
from the midst whereof, a column upright, 
in shape of two Athlants, joined together a 
back half; the one looking east, the other 
west, with their hands upholding a fair-formed 
bowl of three feet over; from whence sun- 
dry fine pipes did lively distil continual streams 
into the reservoir of the fountain, maintained 
still two feet deep by the same fresh falling 
water: wherein pleasantly playing to and fro, 
and round about, carp, tench, bream, and for 
variety, pearch and eel, fish fair-liking all, and 
large : In the top, the ragged staff; which, with 



76 KE NIL WORTH. 

the bowl, the pillar, and eight sides beneath, were 
all hewn out of rich and hard white marble. 
On one side, Neptune with his tridental fuskin 
triumphing in his throne, trailed into the deep 
by his marine horses. On another, Thetis in 
her chariot drawn by her dolphins. Then 
Triton by his fishes. Here Proteus herding his 
sea-bulls. There Doris and her daughters so- 
lacing on sea and sands. The waves surging 
with froth and foam, intermingled in place, with 
whales, whirlpools, sturgeons, tunneys, conches, 
and wealks, all engraven by exquisite device and 
skill, so as I may think this not much inferior 
unto Plwebus'' gates, which Ovid says, and per- 
adventure a pattern to this, that Vulcan himself 
did cut : whereof such was the excellency of art, 
that the work in value surmounted the stuff, 
and yet were the gates all of clean massy silver. 
Here were things, ye see, might inflame any 
mind to long after looking: but whoso was* 
found so hot in desire, with the wrest of a cock 
was sure of a cooler : water spirting upward with 
such vehemency, as they should, by and by, be 
moistened from top to toe ; the he's to some 



KENILWORTH. 77 

laughing, but the she's to more sport : this 
sometime was occupied to very good pastime. 

A garden then so appointed, as wherein 
aloft upon sweet shadowed walk of terrace, in 
heat of summer, to feel the pleasant whisking 
wind above, or delectable coolness of the foun- 
tain-spring beneath ; to taste of delicious straw- 
berries, cherries, and other fruits, even from 
their stalks ; to smell such fragrancy of sweet 
odours, breathing from the plants, herbs, and 
flowers ; to hear such natural melodious music 
and tunes of birds ; to have in eye for mirth 
sometime these underspringing streams ; then, 
the woods, the waters (for both pool and chase 
were hard at hand in sight), the deer, the people 
(that out of the east arbour in the base Court, 
also at hand in view), the fruit-trees, the plants, 
the herbs, the flowers, the change in colours, the 
birds flittering, the fountain streaming, the fish 
swimming, all in such delectable variety, order, 
and dignity ; whereby, at one moment, in one 
place, at hand, without travel, to have so full 
fruition of so many God's blessings, by entire 
delight unto all senses (if all can take) at once : 



78 KENfLWORTH. 

for etymon of the word worthy to be called Pa- 
radise : and though not so goodly as Paradise, 
for want of the fair rivers, yet better a great deal 
by the lack of so unhappy a tree. Argument 
most certain of a right noble mind, that in this 
sort could have thus all contrived. 

But, Master Martin, yet one windlass must I 
fetch, to make you one more fair course, an I 
can : and cause I speak of One, let me tell you 
a little of the dignity of One-hood ; wherein al- 
ways all high Deity, all Sovereignty, Pre-emin- 
ence, Principality, and Concord, without possi- 
bility of disagreement, is contained : As, One 
God, One Saviour, One Faith, One Prince, One 
Sun, One Phoenix ; and as One of great wisdom 
saith, One heart, One way. Where One-hood 
reigns, there Quiet bears rule, and Discord flies 
apace. Three again may signify company, a 
meeting, a multitude, plurality ; so as all tales 
and numberings from two unto three, and so up- 
ward, may well be counted numbers, 'till they 
mount unto infinity, or else to confusion, which 
thing the sum of two can never admit ; nor it- 
self can well be counted a number, but rather a 



KENILWORTH. 79 

friendly conjunction of two Ones ; that, keeping 
in a sincerity of accord, may purport unto us 
charity to each other; mutual love, agreement 
and integrity of friendship without dissimula- 
tion. As is in these: The two Testaments ; the 
Two Tables of the Law ; the Two great Lights, 
Duo luminaria magma, the Sun and Moon. 
And, but mark a little, I pray, and see how of all 
things in the world, our tongues in talk do al- 
ways so readily trip upon two's, pairs, and 
couples ; sometimes as of things in equality, 
sometime of difference, sometime of contraries, 
or for comparison, but chiefly, for the most part, 
of things that between themselves do well agree, 
and are fast linked in amity : As, first, for pas- 
times, Hounds and Hawks ; Deer red and fal- 
low ; Hare and Fox ; Partridge and Pheasant ; 
Fish and Fowl ; Carp and Tench. For Wars, 
Spear and Shield ; Horse and Harness ; Sword 
and Buckler. For sustenance, Wheat and Bar- 
ley ; Pease and Beans ; Meat and Drink ; Bread 
and Meat ; Beer and Ale ; Apples and Pears. 

But lest by such dualities I draw you too 
far; let us here stay, and come nearer home. 



80 KENILWOItTH. 

See what a sort of friendly binites we ourselves 
do consist and stand upon : First, our Two feet, 
Two legs, Two knees, so upward ; and above, 
Two shoulders, Two arms, and Two hands. 
But chiefly our principal Two ; that is, body 
and soul : Then in the head, where all our 
senses meet, and almost all in Two's : Two 
Nostrils, Two ears, and Two eyes : So are 
we of friendly Two's from top to toe. Well, to 
this number of binites, take ye one more for 
an upshot, and here an end. 

Two dials nigh unto the battlements, are set 
aloft upon two of the sides of Caesar's Tower ; 
one east, the other south ; for so stand they best 
to show the hours to the town and country: 
both fair, large, and rich, blue bice for ground, 
and gold for letters, whereby they glitter con- 
spicuous a great way off. The clock-bell, that 
is good and shrill, was commanded to silence at 
first, and indeed, sung not a note all the while 
her Highness was there ; the clock stood also still 
withal. But mark now, whether were it by 
chance, by constellation of stars, or by fatal 
appointment (if fates and stars do deal with 



KE NIL WORTH. 81 

dials) thus was it indeed. The hands of botli 
the tables stood firm and fast, always pointing 
at two o'clock. Which thing beholding by hap 
at first, but after seriously marking in deed, en- 
printed into me a deep sign and argument cer- 
tain: that this thing, among the rest, was for full 
significance of his Lordship's honourable, frank, 
friendly, and noble heart towards all estates: 
which, whether they come to stay and take 
cheer, or strait to return ; to see, or to be seen ; 
come they for duty to her Majesty, or love to 
his Lordship, or for both : come they early or 
late: for his Lordship's part, they come always 
all at two o'clock, e'en jump at two o'clock : that 
is to say, in good heart, good acceptance, in 
amity, and friendly welcome : who saw else that 
I saw, in right must say as I say. For so many 
things beside, Master Humphrey ,were herein so 
consonant unto my construction, that this point- 
ing of the clock (to myself) I took in amity, as 
an oracle certain. And here is my windlass like 
your course, as please you. 

But now, Sir, to come to an end. For 
receiving of her Highness, and entertainment of 

G 



82 KENILWORTH. 

all the other estates. Since of delicates, that 
any way might serve or delight ; as of wine, 
spice, dainty viands, plate, music, ornaments of 
house, rich arras and silk (to say nothing of the 
meaner things), the mass by provision was heaped 
so huge, which the bounty in spending did after 
bewray. The conceit so deep in casting the 
plat at first : such a wisdom and cunning in 
acquiring things so rich, so rare, and in such 
abundance : by so immense and profuse a charge 
of expence, which, by so honourable service, and 
exquisite order, courtesy of officers, and huma- 
nity of all, were after so bountifully bestowed and 
spent; what may this express, what may this 
set out unto us, but only a magnific mind, a sin- 
gular wisdom, a princely purse, and an heroical 
heart ? If it were my theme, Master Martin, to 
speak of his Lordship's great honour and mag- 
nificence, though it be not in me to say suffi- 
ciently, as bad a pen-clerk as I am, yet could I 
say a great deal more. 

But being here now in magnificence, and mat- 
ters of greatness, it falls well to mind the great- 
ness of his Honor's tent, that for her Majesty's 



KENILWORTH. 83 

dining was pight at Long Ichington, the day her 
Highness came to Kenilworth Castle. A taber- 
nacle indeed for number and shift of large 
and goodly rooms, for fair and easy offices both 
inward and outward, all so likesome in order and 
eye-sight : that justly for dignity may be com- 
parable with a beautiful palace ; and for great- 
ness and quantity, with a proper town, or rather 
a citadel. But to be short, lest I keep you too 
long from the Royal Exchange now, and to 
cause you conceive much matter in fewest 
words. The iron bedstead of Og, the king of 
Basan (you know) was four yards and a half 
long, and two yards wide, whereby ye consider 
a giant of a great proportion was he : This tent 
had seven cart-load of pins pertaining to it : 
Now for the greatness, guess as you can. 

And great as it was (to marshal our matters 
of greatness together,) not forgetting a wether at 
Grafton, brought to the Court, that for body and. 
wool was exceeding great; the measure I took 
not: let me show you with what great marvel 
a great child of Leicestershire, at this Long 
Ichington, by the parents was presented : great, 
g2 



84 KENILWORTH. 

I say, of limbs and proportion, of four feet and 
four inches high, and else lanuginous as a lad of 
eighteen years ; being indeed avowed to be but 
six years old, nothing more bewraying his age 
than his wit, that was, as for those years, simple 
and childish. 

As for unto his Lordship, having with such 
greatness of honourable modesty and benignity 
so passed forth, as laudem sine invidia et ami- 
cos par it. By greatness of well-doing, won with 
all sorts to be in such reverence as de quo mentiri 
fama veretur. In sincerity of friendship so great, 
as no man more devoutly worships illud ami- 
citlce sanctum et venerabile nomen. So great in 
liberality, as hath no way to heap up the mass of 
his treasure, but only by liberal giving and 
bounteous bestowing his treasure ; following (as 
it seems) that saw of Martial, that saith, 

Extra fortimam est, quicqiiid donatur araicis ; 
Quas dederis, solas semper habebis opss. 

Out of all hazard dost thou set that to thy friends 

thou givest : 
A surer treasure canst thou not have ever while 

thou livest. 



KENILWORTH. 85 

What may these greatnesses bode, but only as 
great honour, fame, and renown for these parts 
here away, as ever was unto these two noble 
greats, the Macedonian Alexander in Emathia 
or Greece, or to Roman Charles in Germany or 
Italy ? Which, were it in me any way to set 
out, no man of all men by God, Master Mar- 
tin, had ever more cause, and that hereby con- 
sider you- 

It pleased his Honor to bear me good will at 
first, and so to continue. To have given me 
apparel even from his back, to get me allowance 
in the stable, to advance me unto this worshipful 
office so near the most honourable Council, to 
help me in my licence of beans (though indeed 
I do not so much use it, for, I thank God, I 
need not) to permit my good father to serve the 
stable. Whereby I go now in my silks, that 
else might ruffle in my cut canvas : I ride now 
on horseback, that else many times might ma- 
nege it on foot : am known to their Honors, 
and taken forth with the best, that else might be 
bidden to stand back myself. My good father a 
good relief, that he fares much the better by, 
and none of these for my desert, either at first or 



86 KENILWOKTH. 

since, God knows. What say you, my good 
friend Humphrey, should I not for ever honour 
and extol him all the ways I can ? Yes, by 
your leave, while God lends me power to utter 
my mind. And, having as good cause of his 
Honor, as Virgil had of Augustus Caesar •, will I 
poet it a little with Virgil, and say, 

Namque erit Hie mihi semper Deus, illius aram 
Saepe tener nostris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus. 

For he shall be a God to me, 'till death my life 

consumes, 
His altars will I sacrifice with incense and perfumes. 

A singular patron of humanity may he be 
well unto us toward all degrees: of honour 
toward high estates, and chiefly whereby we 
may learn in what dignity, worship, and rever- 
ence her Highness is to be esteemed, honoured, 
and received, that was never indeed more con- 
dignly done than here ; so as neither by the 
builders at first, nor by the edict of pacification 
after, was ever Kenilworth more ennobled, than 
by this his Lordship's receiving her Highness 
here now. 



KENIL WORTH. 87 

But, Jesu, Jesu, whither am I drawn now ? 
But talk I of my Lord once, even thus it fares 
with me : I forget all my friends, and myself 
too. And yet you, being a mercer, a merchant, 
as I am, my countryman born, and my good 
friend withal, whereby I know you are com- 
passioned with me ; methought it my part some- 
what to impart unto you how it is here with me, 
and how I lead my life, which indeed is this : 

A mornings I rise ordinarily at seven o'clock : 
then ready, I go into the chapel ; soon after 
eight, I get me commonly into my Lord's 
chamber, or into my Lord's presidents. There 
at the cupboard, after I have eaten the manchet 
served over night for livery, (for I dare be as 
bold, I promise you, as any of my friends the 
servants there ; and indeed I could have fresh, if 
I would tarry; but I am of wont jolly and dry 
a mornings) : I drink me up a good bowl of ale : 
when in a sweet pot it is defecated by all night's 
standing, the drink is the better, take that of 
me : and a morsel in a morning, with a sound 
draught, is very wholesome and good for the 
eyesight : Then I am as fresh all the forenoon 



88 KEN1LW0RTH. 

alter, as had I eaten a whole piece of beef. Now, 
Sir, if the Council sit, I am at hand ; wait at an 
inch, I warrant you : If any make babbling, 
" Peace,'' 1 say I, " wot ye where ye are F" If I 
take a listener, or a pryer in at the chinks or at 
the lock-hole, I am by and by in the bones of 
.him : but now they keep good order, they know 
me well enough : If he be a friend, or such a 
one as 1 like. I make him sit down by me on a 
form or a chest ; let the rest walk, in God's name. 
And here doth my languages now and then 
stand me in good stead, my French, my Spanish, 
my Dutch, and my Latin : sometime among 
Ambassadors' men, if their masters be within 
the Council : sometime with the Ambassador 
himself, if he bid call his lacquey, or ask me 
what's o'clock ; and I warrant you I answer him 
roundly, that they marvel to see such a fellow 
there : then laugh I, and say nothing. Dinner 
and supper I have twenty places to go to, and 
heartily prayed to : Sometimes I get to Master 
Pinner ; by my faith a worshipful Gentleman, 
and as careful for his charge as any her High- 
ness hath. There find 1 always good store of 



KKxNIL WORTH. 89 

very good viands ; we eat, and be merry, thank 
God and the Queen. Himself in feeding very 
temperate and moderate as you shall see any ; 
and yet, by your leave, of a dish, as a cold 
pigeon or so, that hath come to him at meat 
more than he looked for, I have seen him even 
so by and by surfeit, as he hath plucked off his 
napkin, wiped his knife, and eat not a morsel 
more ; like enough to stick in his stomach 
two days after: (some hard message from the 
higher officers ; perceive ye me ?) Upon search, 
his faithful dealing and diligence had found him 
faultless. 

In afternoons and at nights, sometime am I 
with the right worshipful Sir George Howard, 
as good a Gentleman as any that lives. And 
sometime, at my good Lady Sidney's chamber, 
a Noble-woman that I am as much bound unto, 
as any poor man may be unto so gracious a 
Lady ; and sometime in some other place. But 
always among the Gentlewomen by my good will ; 
(O, you know that comes always of a gentle 
spirit) : And when I see company according, 
then can I be as lively too : Sometimes I foot it 



90 KENILWORTH. 

with dancing: now with my gittern, or else 
with my cittern, then at the virginals: You 
know nothing comes amiss to me : Then carol I 
up a song withal ; that by and by they come 
flocking about me like bees to honey ; And ever 
they cry, " Another, good Laneham, another !" 

Shall I tell you ? when I see Mistress 

(Ah ! see a mad knave ; I had almost told all !) 
that she gives once but an eye, or an ear ; 
why then, man, am I blest ; my grace, my cou- 
rage, my cunning is doubled : She says, some- 
time, " She likes it ;" and then I like it much 
the better : it doth me good to hear how well I 
can do. And to say truth ; what with mine eye, 
as I can amorously gloit it, with my Spanish 
sospires, my French heighes, mine Italian dul- 
cets, my Dutch hoves, my double releas, my 
high reaches, my tine feigning, my deep diapason, 
my wanton warbles, my running, my timing, 
my tuning, and my twinkling, I can gracify the 
matters as well as the proudest of them, and 
was yet never stained, I thank God: By my 
troth, countryman, it is sometimes high midnight, 
ere I can get from them. And thus have I 



KEN1LWQRTH. 91 

told you most of my trade, all the live long day : 
what will you more, God save the Queen and my 
Lord. I am well, I thank you. 

Herewith meaned I fully to bid ye farewell, 
had not this doubt come to my mind, that here 
remains a doubt in you, which I ought (rae- 
thought) in any wise to clear. Which is, ye 
marvel perchance to see me so bookish. Let me 
tell you in few words: I went to school, for- 
sooth, both at Paul's and also at St. Anthony's : 
In the fifth form, passed M sop's Fables, I wis, 
read Terence vos istcec intro aziferte, and began 
with my Virgil Tityre tupatulce. I conned my rules, 
could construe and parse with the best of them : 
since that, as partly you know, have I traded 
the feat of merchandize in sundry countries, and 
so got me languages ; which do so little hinder 
my Latin, as I, thank God, have much en- 
creased it. I have leisure sometimes, when I 
tend not upon the Council ; whereby, now look 
I on one book, now on another. Stories I de^ 
light in: the more ancient and rare, the more 
likesome to me. If I told you, I liked William 
of Malmesbury so well, because of his diligence 



92 KENILWORTH. 

and antiquity, perchance you would construe it 
because I love malmsey so well: But i 1 faith it 
is not so: for sipt I no more sack and sugar, 
(and yet never but with company,) than I do 
malmsey, I should not blush so much adays as 
I do: you know my mind. 

Well now, thus fare ye heartily well i' faith : 
If with wishing it could have been, ye had had a 
buck or two this summer; but we shall come 
nearer shortly, and then shall we merrily meet, 
an grace o 1 God. In the mean time commend 
me, I beseech you, unto my good friends, almost 
most of them your neighbours: Master Alder- 
man Pullison, * a special friend of mine : And 
in any wise to my good old friend Master Smith, 

Customer, by that same token, " Set my 

horse up to the rack, and then let's have a cup 
of Sack."" He knows the token well enough, 
and will laugh, I hold you a groat. To Master 
Thorogood : and to my merry companion (a 



* Afterwards Sir Thomas Pullison, and Lord Mayor 
in 1584. 



KENILWORTH. 93 

Mercer, you know, as we be) Master De?ima?i, 
Miofratello in Christo : He is wont to summon 
me by the name of " Ro. La. of the County of 
Nosingham Gentleman :" A good companion, 
i 'faith. Well, once again, fare ye heartily well. 
From the Court. At the City of Worcester, 
the twentieth of August, 1 575. 

Your Countryman, companion, and friend 
assuredly: Mercer, Merchant-adventurer, and 
Clerk of the Council chamber-door, and also 
Keeper of the same : 
El Prencipe Negro. Par me R. L. Gent. Mercer 

DE MAJESTATE REGIA 

Bcnigno. 
Cedant arma togae, concedat laurea linguae, 

Jactanter Cicero, at justius illud habe : 
Cedant arma togae, vigil et toga cedit honori, 

Omnia concedant imperioque suo. 

Deo Opt. Max. Grat'wc. 



GLOSSARIAL 

AND 

EXPLANATORY NOTES. 



Page 4. — A flight-shoot bread. 
This passage may have two significations : One 
derived from the same expression which Laneham uses 
when speaking of the fire-works, in which place it is un- 
derstood to mean a flying shot, or one discharged from a 
mortar. — The other method of understanding the words 
is, supposing that a flight signified a small arrow ; in 
contradistinction to shafts, quarrels, bolts, and piles. 
The latter of these is, however, the most probable, as the 
pool itself was not more than three hundred feet in 
breadth. 

Ibid. — by the brays, &c. 
The Park at Kenilworth was separated from the Castle 
on the south side by a part of the pool, but was, as the 
text states, connected as it were with the building; by the 
sloping banks next the water. The word Bra, Brae, or 
Bray, in the northern counties and Scotland is used for 
the acclivity of a hill, and the brink or bank of a river. — 
Vide Grose and Jamieson. 

Page 6. — Petida's presumption. 
In the year 642. Penda, King of Mercia, invaded the 
dominions of Oswald, King of Northumberland ; who 
was slain after a fierce battle at Maserfield. Burthred 
or Buthred, who is mentioned in the context, was the 
last King of Mercia ; whose kingdom was invaded in 
8/4, by the West-Saxons, under Alfred. Thus overpow- 
ered, he fled to Rome, where he died. 



95 

Page 6. — Buthred's Hascardy. 
The latter of these words, signifies a dispersion or scat- 
tering, the cause of which, has been related in the pre- 
ceding note. Hascardy is derived from the Saxon "Ky- 
cabian, which is of the same interpretation. — Vide 
Somner. 

Page 7- — Althamerus writes. 

Andrew Althamer, a Lutheran minister of Nurem- 
berg, who lived about 1560 j he wrote several controver- 
sial works, and some valuable notes on Tacitus, from 
which the passage in the text is taken. — Vide Diction- 
naire Universe! . 

The termination Worth, which is mentioned in the 
text to signify land situate by water, is more properly 
derived from the Saxon pojift, a court or farm ; and hence 
the place was originally denominated Kenelm's Worth, 
or the Court of Kenelm. 

Ibid.— Sybred. 

A word signifying kindred, from the Saxon Sib-neben 
— Consanguinity. — Vide Lye. 

Page 8. — Long Ichington. 
Another copy erroneously states this town to be only 
three miles distant from Kenilworth. In Dr. Thomas's 
edition of Dugdale's Warwickshire, Lond. 1730, Vol. 1. 
p. 345, it is related that at the period mentioned in 
the text, " the Earl of Leicester gave the Queen a glo- 
rious entertainment here, in her passage to Kenilworth 
Castle, erecting a tent of extraordinary largeness for that 
purpose, the pins belonging whereto amounted to seven 
cart-loads ; by which the magnificence thereof may be 
guessed at." Laneham also subsequently notices this 
circumstance, when speaking of the preparations for the 
Queen's reception at Kenilworth. Vide p. 83, ante. 

Ibid. — in a pall of while silk. 
A long and large upper mantle was denominated a 
pall, from the Latin pallium, or palla, a cloak. The great 
mantle worn by the Knights of the Garter, is by ancient 
writers called pallium. 



96 

Ibid. — into every stead. 
That is to say, every where, or into every place ; the 
word stead is from the Saxon 8te^e, a room or place. — 
Vide Somner. 

Page 10 — The Ludy of the Lake. 
The Lady of the Lake was a distinguished character in 
the celebrated romance called " La Movte d'Arthur," 
and in the xxvth chapter of the 1st book of that Work 
she is thus introduced. " Soo they rode tyl they came to 
a lake the whiche was a fayr water, and brood. And in 
the niyddes of the lake, Arthur was ware of an arme 
clothed in white samyte, [i. e. satin] that held a fayr 
swerd in that hand, loo said Merlin, yonder is that swerd 
thatl spak of, with that they sawe adamoisel going upon 
the lake, what damoisel is that ? said Arthur; that is the 
lady of the lake, said Merlin." From this lady it was 
that King Arthur received his sword Excalibor, which 
some have explained to signify cut steel, and others have 
supposed to be a Hebrew term, meaning more precious 
than iron or steel. At the conclusion of the romance 
this famous sword is again cast into the lake, when the 
same hand receives it ; the dying Arthur is also taken 
into a barge wherein were many " fayr ladyes, and 
amonge hem al was a quene, and al they had blacke 
hoodes, and al they wepte and shryked when they sawe 
Kyng Arthur." Such was that Sovereign's departure 
from this world, but yet he is not supposed to be dead, 
but only sleeping on the magic lap of the Lady of the 
Lake, " by the wylle of our Lord Jhesu in another place, 
and men say that he shal come ageyn and he shalwynne 
the holy crosse." — Fide " La Morte d'Arthur," Caxton's 
Edit. J485. 

Page 1 1 . — Shalms, Cornets, &c. 
The word shalm or shawm is derived from the German 
00ljalme, a musical instrument; it however strictly sig- 
nifies a psaltery or species of harp. The cornet is a horn, 
as its name signifies in several languages. — Vide Bailev, 
Buy, &c. 



97 

Page 14. — Pight. 
This word is the ancient preterite and participle past 
of the verb to pitch. It signifies, generally, any thing 
placed, fixed, pitched, or determined. Vide Bailey. 

Ibid. — Recorders. 
These were wind-instruments somewhat resembling 
flutes, or rather clarionets ; for by the description which 
is given of one by Lord Bacon, in the Second Century 
of his " Sylva Sylvarum," at the 159th and lGlst experi- 
ments, it may be ascertained that the instrument was 
blown into at one end. It appears from the same 
authority, that it consisted of a tube with stops or wind- 
holes, and a fipple, or mouth-piece ; the lower end was 
open, like the flageolets of the present time. The word 
fipple, used by Bacon for mouth-piece, literally signifies 
a stopper, from the Latin jibuli, whence it may be 
argued that the upper end of the Recorder terminated in 
a cap, from which issued the pipe that conveyed the 
breath throughout the whole instrument. Vide Mallet's 
Bacon, vol. 1, and Bailey. 

Page 15. — Ceruleous. 
Azure-blue, or sky-colour, from the Latin ceruleus. 
Anciently, blue dresses were worn by all servants. Vide 
Strutt. 

Page 18. — Takes soil. 
A term used in hunting, when a deer runs into the 
water. Vide Phillips. 

Ibid. — To the spoil of a Karvell. 
A Carvel, or Caravel, was a species of light round ves- 
sel, with a square stern, rigged and fitted out like a 
galley, and of about 140 tons burthen. Such ships were 
formerly much used by the Portuguese, and were es- 
teemed the best sailers on the seas. Vide Phillips. 

Ibid. — The yearning of the Hounds. 
A hunting expression, used to signify the barking of 
beagles at their prey. Vide Bailey. 

H 



98 

Page 23. — A great sort of Ban- dogs. 
Bewick describes the Ban-clog as being a variety of 
the mastiff, but lighter, smaller, and more vigilant; 
although at the same time not so powerful. The nose 
is also less, and possesses somewhat of the hound's 
scent ; the hair is rough, and of a yellowish grey colour, 
marked with shades of black. The bite of a Ban-dog is 
keen, and considered dangerous ; and its attack is usually 
made upon the flank. Dogs of this kind are now rarely 
to be met with. 

Page 25. — The Bear with his pink eyes. 

There is a singular coincidence between Laneham's 
description of a bear-fight, and that given in the Romance 
of" Kenilworth," where the Earl of Sussex presents a peti- 
tion from Orson Pinnit, Keeper of the Royal Bears, 
against Shakspeare and the players. It is evident that 
the author of "Kenilworth" had the passage in his mind ; 
and as the reader may also like to compare the two 
passages, an extract from the Romance is here inserted : 
" There you may see the bear lying at guard with his 
red pinky eyes, watching the onset of the mastiff like a 
wily captain, who maintains his defence, that an assail- 
ant may be tempted to venture within his danger." Vide 
Kenilworth, vol. ii. p. 129- 
Page 26. — Gyrings. 

An old English noun formed of the Latin gyrus, a 
eircuit or compass ; a career or circle. 

Page 27. — Diodorus Siculus, an ancient Greek writer. 
The reference made in the text to the third book of 
this author is erroneous ; the passage alluded to, being 
in the fourth chapter of the second book, the which, as 
it tends more perfectly to illustrate Laneham's remarks, 
is here extracted from Booth's translation of Diodorus 
Siculus, page 82. *' The inhabitants are much unlike to 
us in these parts of the world, both as to their bodies 
and their way of living ; but among themselves, they 
are for form and shape like one to another, and in stature 



99 

above four cubits high (six feet). They can bend and 
turn their bodies like unto nerves ; and as the nervous 
parts, after motion ended, return to their former state 
and position, so do their bones. Their bodies are very 
tender, but their nerves far stronger than ours, for what- 
ever they grasp in their hands, none are able to wrest out 
of their fingers. They have not the least hair in any 
part of their bodies, but upon their heads, eyebrows, 
eyelids, and chins ; all other parts are so smooth, that 
not the least down appears any where. They are very 
comely and well-shaped, but the holes of their ears are 
much wider than ours, and have something like little 
tongues growing out of them. Their tongues have some- 
thing in them singular and remarkable, the effect both of 
nature and art ; for they have partly a double tongue, 
naturally a little divided, but cut farther inwards by art, 
so that it forms two, as far as to the very root, and there- 
fore there's great variety of speech among them, and 
they not only imitate man's voice in articulate speaking, 
but the various chatterings of birds, and even all sorts of 
notes, as they please ; and that w T hich is more wonder- 
ful than all, is, that they can speak perfectly to two men 
at once, both in answering to what is said, and aptly 
carrying on a continued discourse relating to subject- 
matter in hand ; so that with one part of their tongue 
they speak to one, and with the other part to the other." 
Diodorus, surnamed Siculus, because he was born at 
Argyra in Sicily, flourished about 44 years before the 
Christian era. 

Page 27. — Conradus Gesnerus. 
An eminent physician, naturalist, and scholar of the 
l6th century, who was born at Zurich in 15l6. He was 
made Professor of Greek at Lausanne, and at Basil he 
took the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After having 
published many valuable works in Botany, Medicine, 
Natural History, and Philology, he died of the plague in 
the year 1565, aged forty-nine. His " Mithridates," 
mentioned in the text, is a work on the difference of 
tongues throughout the world. 

l_.Cs 0. 



100 

Page 28. — A comely Quintain. 
In the Glossary to Bishop Kennels Parochial Anti- 
quities, it is stated that the Quintain was a customary 
sport at weddings. It consisted of an upright piece with, 
a cross piece, one end of which is broad, and pierced 
full of holes, and to the other is appended a bag of sand, 
which swings round upon the slightest blow. — " The 
pastime was," says Hasted," for the youth on horseback 
to run at it as fast as possible, and hit the broad part in 
his career with much force. He that by chance hit it 
not at all was treated with loud peals of derision ; and 
he who did hit it, made the best use of his swiftness, lest 
he should have a sound blow on his neck from the bag 
of sand, which instantly swang round from the other end 
of the quintain. The great design of this sport was to 
try the agility of the horse and man, and to break the 
board, which whoever did, he was accounted chief of 
the day'ssport." 

Ibid. — Blue buckram bride-lace. 
Laces of this description were anciently presented 
to all the guests at weddings, and scarfs at funerals. — 
Vide Ellis's edit, of Brand. 

Page 29. — Girths were Geazon. 
Or Geason, an ancient word, signifying rare or scarce. 
— Vide Phillips. 

Page 30. — Pucelles. 
A French word for maids or virgins. 

Ibid. — Loober Worts. 
A dull, heavy, and useless fellow. The word is pro- 
bably derived from the Danish lubben, gross or fat, and 
vorte, a wart or wen. — Vide Wolff. — Shakspeare uses 
the latter word somewhat in this sense, when he makes 
Prince Henry say of Falstaff, " I do allow this wen to be 



Ibid. — A sweet Sucket Barrel. 
A vessel used for containing sweetmeats, for which 
sucket is the ancient word. 



101 

Page 30. — ParcelL 
Partially, or partly. 

Page 33. — His Jumenl. 
A French word for a marc. 

Page 34. — Certain good-hearted men of Coventry. 
Previous to the suppression of the English Monaste- 
ries, the City of Coventry was particularly famed for the 
Pageants which were performed in it on the 14th of 
June, or Corpus-Christi day. This appears to have been 
one of the ancient fairs ; and the Gray Friars, or Friars 
Minors of the above City, had, as Dugdale relates, " The- 
atres for the several scenes very large and high, placed 
upon wheels, and drawn to all the eminent parts of the 
City, for the better advantage of the spectators : and con- 
tained the story of the Old and New Testament, com- 
posed in the old English rhyme." Coventry appears to 
nave derived great benefit from the numbers of persoris 
who came to visit these pageants. 

Page 36. — Too sour in preaching aicay their pastime. 
While the Catholic religion was the established faith 
of England, there were, in connexion with it, many pub- 
lic amusements and festivals, by which all the orders of 
society were entertained ; such as the performance of 
Moralities or sacred plays, popular customs to be ob- 
served on certain vigils and saints' days, and the keeping 
of the many holidays enjoined by the Romish Calendar, 
in the pastimes common to the lower classes. In the 
commencement of most reformations in society, it is 
common to find the reverse of wrong assumed for right; 
and hence the Puritans, who increased rapidly after the 
English Reformation, not only banished all those festi- 
vals and customs peculiar to the Catholic religion, but 
also violently declaimed against popular pastimes, inno- 
cent in themselves, but condemned by them because 
they had existed in former times. This illiberal spirit 
of denouncing public amusements, was, however, not 
'thout some opposition; Randolph severely attacked 
the sanctified fraternity of Blackfriars," in his " Muses 



wi 



102 

Looking Glass," and Ben Jonson scarcely ever let them 
pass without some satirical remark. In the Monologue, 
or " Masque of Owls," the latter of which, as it was 
performed at Kenil worth, in the reign of Charles 1., is 
most to the present purpose ; the third owl is intended to 
represent a Puritan of Coventry, one of those who con- 
tributed to put down the Coventry plays, and is thus 
described : 

HEY OWL THIRD ! 

" A pure native bird 

This, and though his hue 

Be Coventry blue, 

Yet is he undone 

By the thread he has spun ; 

For since the wise town 

Has let the sports down 

Of May-games and Morris, 

For which he right sorry is ; 

"Where their maids and their makes, * 

At dancings and wakes, 

Had their napkins and posies, 

And the wipers for their noses, 

And their smocks all-be-wrought 

With his thread which they bought : 

It now lies on his hands, 

And having neither wit nor lands, 

Is ready to hang or choke him, 

In a skein of that that broke him." 

From the above keen satire may be gathered, that in 
abolishing of the Coventry pageants, the trade of that 
City suffered considerably. The chief staple of the place 
was the manufactory of blue thread, of which a great 
consumption was formerly made in the embroidering of 
scarfs and napkins. But beside the decay of trade in 
Coventry, occasioned by the loss of the Pageants, the un- 
patriotic taste for articles of foreign production, was also 
of considerable detriment to that, as well as to the other 
manufacturing towns of England. In a very rare tract, 
entitled " A Briefe Conceipte of English Pollicye," 
Lond. 1581, with the initials W. S. and ascribed to 

* Mates. 



103 

Shakspeare, but in reality written by W. Stafford, there 
are the following passages concerning the effect of this 
destructive fashion upon the staple of -Coventry : and as 
they tend so particularly to illustrate the period of the 
Kenilworth pageants, and Laneham's own manners, 
which were so strongly tinctured with foreign fopperies, it 
is presumed that their insertion will not be unacceptable 
to the reader : — " I will tell you; while men were con- 
tented with such as were made in the market-towns next 
unto them, then they of our towns and cities were well 
set a work, as I knew the time when men were con- 
tented with caps, hats, girdles and points, and all man- 
ner of garments made in the towns next adjoining, 
whereby the towns were then well occupied and set a 
work, and yet the money paid for the stuff remained in 
the country. Now, the poorest young man in a coun- 
try cannot be content with a leather girdle, or leather 
points, knives or daggers, made nigh home. And spe- 
cially no gentleman can be content to have either cap, 
coat, doublet, hose, or shirt in his country, but they must 
have this gear come from London, and yet many things 
hereof are not there made, but beyond the sea : whereby 
the artificers of our good towns are idle, and the occupa- 
tions in London, and specially of the towns beyond the 
seas, are well seta work even upon our costs.— I have heard 
say that the chief trade of Coventry was heretofore in 
making of blue thread, and then the town was rich even 
upon that trade in manner only, and now our thread 
comes all from beyond sea. Wherefore that trade of 
Coventry is decayed, and thereby the town likewise." — 
In consequence, therefore, of the desire for foreign arti- 
cles of dress and ornament, England, which had been 
hitherto in a great measure supplied from her own re- 
sources, became about the close of the sixteenth century 
filled with manufactures which were imported from the 
Continent ; while at the same time the most important 
British productions were exchanged for what, in a com- 
mercial sense, might be considered only as superfluities. 
This, also, is very forcibly hinted at in the pamphlet be- 
fore quoted, in the following manner: — " And I marvel 
no man takes heed to it, what number first of trifles 



104 

comes hither from beyond the sea, that we might eithe? 
clean spare, or else make them within our realm, for the 
which we either pay inestimable treasure every year, or 
else exchange substantial wares and necessary, for them, 
for the which we might receive great treasure. Of the 
which sort I mean as well looking-glasses as drinking, 
and also to glaze windows, dials, tables, cards, balls, pup- 
pets, penners (pen-cases), ink-horns, toothpicks, gloves, 
knives, daggers, ouches (collars or necklaces), brooches, 
aglets (the metal ends of tags or laces), buttons of silk 
and silver, earthen pots, pins and points, hawks' bells, 
paper both white and brown, and a thousand like 
things that might either be clean spared, or else made 
within the realm sufficient for us : and as for some things 
they make it of our own commodities, and send it us again, 
whereby they set their people a work, and do exhaust 
much treasure out of this realm : as of our wool they 
make cloths, caps, and kerseys ; of our fells (hides) they 
make Spanish skins, gloves and girdles ; of our tin salt- 
sellers, spoons and dishes ; of our broken linen cloths 
and rags, paper both white and brown : what treasure 
think ye goes out of the realm for every of these things ; 
and then for altogether it exceeds mine estimation. There 
is no man can be contented now with any other gloves 
than is made in Fiance or in Spain ; nor kersey, but it 
must be of Flanders dye ; nor cloth, but French or 
Friseadowe; nor ouch, brooch, or agglet, but of Venice 
making, or Milan ; nor dagger, sword, knife, or girdle, 
but of Spanish making, or some outward country ; no 
not as much as a spur, but that is fetched at the mil- 
liner. I have heard within these forty years, when 
there was not of these haberdashers that sells French or 
Milan caps, glasses, knives, daggers, swords, girdles, and 
such things, not a dozen in all London : and now, from 
the town' to Westminster along, every street is full of 
them, and their shops glitters and shines of glasses as 
well drinking as looking, yea all manner of vessel of the 
same stuff: painted cruises, gay daggers, knives, swords, 
and girdles, that it is able to make any temperate man to 
aaze on them, and to buy somewhat though it serve to 
no purpose necessary." 



105 

Page 36. — Captain Cox. 
There is something extremely characteristic in Lane- 
ham's manner of introducing this humorous personage ; 
as he does it in the ordinary style of his office, it being- 
customary for Heralds, Gentlemen ushers, and waiters of 
the Presence-chamber, to call out* for room to be made 
for the passage of any Prince, Ambassador, or Minister of 
state, attending the Court. In Gifford's admirable edition 
of Ben Jonson's Works, in the notes to the " Masque of 
Owls/' Captain Cox is supposed " to have been some 
well-known humourist ;" but at any rate, as the ju- 
dicious editor very properly observes, though Laneham, 
in his description of Cox, '* evidently meant to raise a 
laugh at the Captain's expense, there is no occasion for it. 
' The list of his books and songs' shews him to have 
been a diligent and successful collector of the domestic 
literature of his country, and so far he is entitled to 
praise." By some antiquaries, the existence of Captain 
Cox has been considered as doubtful, and by others it 
has been supposed that Laneham shadowed out his own 
portrait under that name ; yet with respect to his library, 
every bibliographer, from Bodley and Selden down to 
those of the present times, has been as anxious to pos- 
sess it as Sir Launcelot du Lake was to win the holy 
vessel. In 1626, a year after Charles I. became King, the 
Kenilworth pageants were again revived ; and for this 
occasion was written the Monologue, or " Masque of 
Owls," which commenced with the ghost of Captain Cox 
appearing on his Hobby-horse. This, according to the 
custom of the morris-dancers, was formed with the 
resemblance of a horse's head and tail, having a light 
wooden frame to be attached to the body of the person 
who performed the hobby-horse. The trappings and 
foot-cloth reached to the ground, and so concealed the 
feet of the actor, who was to prance, curvet, and imitate 
all the motions of a living horse. Such, it may be sup- 
posed, were the horses of those who performed in the 
Coventry play. Almost the whole of the first part of 
Captain Cox's speech alludes to the entertainments ex- 
hibited to Queen Elizabeth, as may be seen by the 
following extract : speaking of his horse, he says, 



106 

" For to tell you true, and in rhyme, 
He was foaled in Queen Elizabeth's time, 
When the great Earl of Lester 
In this Castle did feast her. 
Now, I am not so stupid 
To think, you think me a Cupid, 
Or a Mercury, that sit him ; 
Though these cocks here would fit him : 
But a spirit very civil, 
Neither poet's god, nor devil, 
An old Kenilworth fox, 
The ghost of Captain Cox, 
For which I am the bolder 
To wear a cock on each shoulder. 
This Captain Cox, by Saint Mary, 
Was at Boulogne with King Ha-iy ; 
And (if some do not vary) 
Had a goodly library, 
By which he was discerned 
To be one of the learned, 
To entertain the Queen here, 
When she last was seen here: 
And for the town of Coventry 
To act to her Sovereignty. 
But so his lot fell out, 
That serving then a-foot, 
And being a little man ; 
When the skirmish began 
'Twixt the Saxon and the Dane, 
(From thence the story was ta'en) 
He was not so well seen 
As he would have been o' the Queen. 
Though his sword was twice as long 
As any man's else in the throng ; 
And for his sake, the play 
Was call'd for the second day." 

In the above lines may also be found an explanation of 
a part of Laneham's text, namely, the word " ton-sword,'" 
which most probably signifies a large and long two- 
handed sword. The epithet is very likely a corruption of 
espadon, a French word which has the above meaning. 



107 

Page 44. — Sulsipotent. 
An epithet derived from the Latin salsipotens, which 
signifies one who has power over the salt seas ; in which 
sense it is used by Plautus. Ainsworth. 

Page 45. — His bands scaled. 
Came away. 

Page 50. — Tonsor wise. 
More properly written tonsure-wise ; that is to say, 
shaven in a circle after the manner of the monks. Fide 
Percy. 

Page 50. — Kendal green. 
This description of the minstrel's dress is particularly 
valuable, as it gives a highly-finished portrait of a class of 
men long since entirely extinct ; and therefore, as many 
parts of the costume alluded to in the text are now un- 
known, it will form an interesting note to consider over 
and to explain them. The person mentioned is stated to 
have resembled " a Squire Minstrel of Middlesex ;" and 
from this Dr. Percy supposes, that " there were other 
inferior orders, as yeomen minstrels, or the like." Philip 
Stubbes, in his "Anatomy of Abuses," 1595, gives a par- 
ticular detail of the Ruff, which is the first part of the 
minstrel's dress mentioned in the text. From this it may 
be learned, that a selling slick, also alluded to, was an 
instrument made either of wood or bone for laying the 
plaits of the ruff in proper form. " A side gown of Ken- 
dal green," was a long hanging robe of coarse green wool- 
len cloth or baize, for the manufacture of which the town 
of Kendal inWestmoreland was very anciently celebrated. 
From Stafford's tract already cited, it would appear that 
this cloth was appropriated to servants ; as he there says, 
" For I know when a serving-man was content to go in 
a Kendal coat in summer, and a frise coat in winter ; and 
with a plain white hose made meet for his body; and 
with a piece of beef, or some other dish of sodden meat, 
all the week long : now will he look to have at the least 
for summer, a coat of the finest cloth that may be gotten 
for money, and his hosen of the finest kersey, and that of 



108 

some strange dye, as Flanders-dye or French-puke, that 
a Prince or great lord can wear no finer if he wear cloth." 
The mantle of Kendal-green, Laneham proceeds to state, 
was gathered at the neck with a narrow gorget, or collar. 
The gorget, which literally signifies a throat-piece, was 
originally a part of the female dress, and consisted of a 
long piece of cloth, or other stuff, wrapped several times 
about the neck, raised on either side the face, and secured 
in the front by long pins driven into the folds. The white 
clasp and keeper were probably formed of pewter, as the 
words " white metal" are often used in this sense in the 
writers of Laneham's period. A red Caddis girdle was 
one of those Spanish manufactures of which Stafford so 
much complains ; they derived their name from being 
made at the city of Cadiz in Spain, out of the fells or un- 
tanned hides, which were sent from England to be formed 
into skins of Spanish leather. To this girdle hung, as. 
usual, a pair of Sheffield knives, capped, or placed within a 
case ; for as the use of forks was not known in England 
till about the year l6l0, knives, for common purposes, 
were usually made in pairs. The word napkin is placed 
for handkerchief. The description of the minstrel's gown 
will easily be understood ; and it is only requisite to re- 
mark upon it, that fustain-a-napes signifies Naples fustain, 
or what was sometimes called fustain bustain. Nether 
stocks were under stockings. The scutcheon about the 
minstrel's neck, alludes to an ancient custom for persons 
of that profession to wear the badge of that family by 
which they were retained 5 as the three belonging to the 
House of Percy wore each of them a silver crescent. 

Towards the end of the sixteenth century, this class of 
men had lost all their former credit, and were sunk so 
low in public estimation, that in 1597, 39th of Eliz. a 
statute was passed, by which minstrels, wandering abroad, 
were included with tf rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beg- 
gars," and were directed to be punished as such. This 
act seems to have put an end to the profession. 

Page 52. — Flawnes. 
Phillips describes a flawn to be " a kind of dainty 
made of fine flower, eggs, and butter." 



109 

Page 57- — Out of King Arthur's acts. 
In Caxton's edition, " La Morte d' Arthur," the chap- 
ter whence this story is taken is entitled, " How the 
tydings came to Arthur that Kyng Ryons had overcome 
xi kynges; and how he desyred Arthur's berde to 
purfyl his mantel." With respect to the poetical tale 
given in the text, Dr. Percy, by whom it was printed in 
his " Reliques," supposes the thought to have been 
originally taken from Jeffery of Monmouth's History. 
It has also been printed in " Percy Enderbie's Cambria 
Triumphans," with some variations in the text, which is 
probably much more pure than that used by Laneham, 
since it is stated to have been procured from "a manu- 
script in the library of the Right Honourable/rhomas 
Lord Windesore." 

Ibid. — Camelot. 
The city of Winchester. 

Ibid. — Heralds in cloaks. 
The original word in this ballad is hewkes, which is de- 
rived from the French huque, a cloak. The tabards, or 
surcoats, of the ancient heralds, were often denominated 
houces, or housings ; and this expression was applied, in- 
discriminately, to their coats of arms, as well as to a dark- 
coloured robe without sleeves, edged with fur, which they 
formerly wore. 

Ibid. — Largess. 
A cry used by the heralds whenever they were rewarded 
by knights or sovereigns. It is still in use at a Coronation. 
It is a French expression, signifying a present or gift. 

Ibid. — Deas. 
The highest or principal table in a hall, which usually 
stood upon a platform. The word comes from the French 
dais, a canopy, as such a covering was usually erected 
over the chief seats. 

Ibid. — 'Gan prick. 
Pressed hastily forwards. 



Voice, sounds. 



110 

Page 57. — Steven. 



Pao-e 58. — Qantle. 
A piece, or part. Shakspeare uses the word in King 
Henry IV. part I. act 3, scene 1. 

"And cuts me, from the best of all my land, 
A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out. 

Ibid. — Stour. 
A battle. 

Page 68. — The Spindle and Rock. 
A distaff held in the hand, from which the wool was 
spun by a ball fixed below on a spindle, upon which every 
thread was wound up as it was done. It was the ancient 
way of spinning, and is still in use in many northern 
counties. Vide Bailey. 

Page 7 1 • — A beautiful garden. 
It would appear from the " Secret Memoirs of the Earl 
of Leicester," that the magnificent gardens and spacious 
parks at Kenilworth were not completed without some 
oppression on the part of their possessor, as the unknown 
author of the above work thus speaks concerning them : 
— " The like proceedings he used with the tenants about 
Killingworth, where he received the said Lordship and 
Castle from the Prince, in gift, of 24/. yearly rent, or 
thereabouts, hath made it better than 500/. .by year, by 
an old record also found, by great good fortune, in a hole 
of the wall, as it is given out (for he hath singular good 
luck always in finding out records for his purpose ;) by 
virtue whereof he hath taken from his tenants round 
about, their lands, woods, pastures, and commons, to 
make himself parks, chases, and other commodities there- 
with, to the subversion of many a good family which was 
maintained there before this devourer set foot in that 
country." At a subsequent part of the same volume is 
mentioned Lord Leicester's " intolerable tyranny" upon 
the lands of one Lane, " who offered to take Killing- 



Ill 

worth Castle." A royal favourite, however, and a suc- 
cessful minister, was never yet without enemies, and it is 
certain that Lord Leicester was not ; the whole of the 
volume out of which these extracts have been made, is 
filled with charges of the most dreadful crimes with 
which human nature can be stained ; yet even these are 
related with such levity, such seeming familiarity with 
vice, that the reader is tempted to believe that a great 
proportion of it was fabricated by malice, and that the 
author was even worse than the character he describes. 
But to return : — The garden mentioned in the text will 
doubtless remind some readers of those splendid pleasure- 
grounds which belonged to Lord Burleigh, at Theo- 
balds in Hertfordshire, and Sir Walter Raleigh's at Shir- 
burne Castle in Dorsetshire. Of the former, Peck, in 
his " Desiderata Curiosa," says, U He also greatly de- 
lighted in making gardens, fountains, and walks, which 
at Theobalds were perfected most costly, beautifully, 
and pleasantly. Where one might walk two miles in the 
walks before he came to their ends." Sir Paul Hentzner, 
in his " Journey into England," when speaking of the 
same place, describes it more particularly. " From this 
place " [i. e. the gallery,] " one goes into the garden, 
encompassed with a ditch full of water, large enough for 
one to have the pleasure of going in a boat, and rowing 
between the shrubs ; here are great variety of trees and 
plants; labyrinths made with a great deal of labour; a 
jet d'eau, with its bason of white marble ; and columns 
and pyramids of wood and other materials up and down 
the garden : After seeing these, we were led by the 
gardener into the summer-house, in the lower part of 
which, built semicircularly, are the twelve Roman Em- 
perors, in white marble, and a table of touchstone; the 
upper part of it is set round with cisterns of lead, into 
which water is conveyed through pipes, so that fish may 
be kept in them, and in summer time they are very con- 
venient for bathing ; in another room for entertainment, 
very near this, and joined to it by a little bridge, is an oval 
table of red marble." Concerning the pleasure-grounds 
at Shirburne, in Peck's work before cited, there is only 
a notice that Sir W T alter Raleigh had drawn the river 



112 

through the rocks into his garden ; butCoker states, that 
he built in the park adjoining to the Castle, " from the 
ground, a most fine house, which he beautified with 
orchards, gardens, and groves, of such variety and delight, 
that whether you consider the goodness of the soil, the 
pleasantness of the seat, and other delicacies belonging 
to it, it is unparalleled by any in these parts." The above 
extracts will be an amusing counterpart to Laneham's 
elaborate description of Lord Leicester's gardens. 

Page 71. — White Bears. 
These effigies were allusive to the ancient badge of 
the Earls of Warwick, which was, a bear erect Argent, 
muzzled Gules, supporting a ragged staff of the first ; the 
ragged staffs were introduced in another part of the gar- 
den, vide ante, page 75. Lord Leicester's connexion 
with the Earls of Warwick was through the houses of 
Lisle andBeauchamp, brought into the family of Dudley 
by his mother, Elizabeth Talbot. In 156l, Ambrose 
Dudley, Robert's elder brother, was made Earl of War- 
wick, and consequently the badge was thus introduced. 

Ibid. — Redolent. 
From the Latin redolens, yielding a sweet smell or 
scent. 

Page 73. — Transom and architrave. 
The word architrave signifies the lowest member of 
the cornice, and an architrave window is one with an 
ogee, or wreathed moulding. A transom is a beam or 
lintel crossing over a window. 

Ibid. — Bolteld columns. 
Boltel is a term used in building, to signify any pro- 
minence or jutting-out beyond the flat face of the wall. 

Ibid. — Pointed, tabled, rock and round. 

It is evident that these precious stones were imitated 

in painting ; and that they were meant to represent the 

gems in their various appearances. Pointed, or rose, as 

it is termed by the lapidaries, is when a stone is cut with 



us 

many angles rising from an octagon, and terminating in 
a point. Tabled is when a diamond is formed with one 
flat upper surface ; and the word table also signifies the 
principal face. Rough is understood to mean the gem in 
its primary state, when its radiance is seen to sparkle 
through the dross of the mine. Round denotes the jewel 
when it is cut and polished with a convex surface. The 
expression, "Garnished with their gold," which follows 
in the text, signifies ornamented with their settings. 

Page 76. — Tridental fuskin. 
A term derived from the Latin fuscina, an eel-spear, 
trident, or three-forked mace. — Vide Ains worth. 



Page 77. — For etymon of the word worthy to be called 
Paradise. 

Laneham, in making use of this expression, gave to 
Lord Leicester's gardens a name which it was custo- 
mary to apply to pleasure-grounds and houses in the six- 
teenth and seventeenth centuries, as in the instances of 
Wressell and Lekinfield, in the East Riding of York- 
shire. 

Page 80. — Binites. 
A word probably coined by Laneham to express duality, 
or the quality of being two. Its principal derivation is 
evidently from the Latin binus, two. 

Page 80. — Bice for ground, and gold for letters. 
Bice is a pale blue colour prepared from the Armenian 
stone, formerly brought from Armenia, but now from 
the silver mines of Germany ; in consequence of which 
smalt is sometimes finely levigated, and called bice. The 
dials alluded to in the text were enamelled, and with the 
sun's reflection on the gold figures, heightened by the 
azure ground, must have had a most splendid appear- 
ance. 

Page 83. — The iron bedstead of Og, King ofBasan. 
Vide Deuteronomy, chap. iii. verse 11. 



114 






Page 84. — Lanuginons. 
An adjective derived from the Latin lanuginoms, 
downy, covered with soft hair. 

Page 87- — Defecated. 
A participle formed of the Latin verb dejceco, to purify 
liquors from their lees and foulness. 

Ibid. 1 — Gittern — cittern — virginals. 
The first two of these instruments, if not the same, 
were at least closely resembling each other. The words 
are a corruption from the Spanish citara, a guitar ; or 
Citron, a guitar-maker. Citterns were a species of that 
extensive class of musical instruments of the guitar 
form, known in the best era of music in England, which 
went under ihe names of the Lute Ompharion, Bam- 
bora, &c. some of which had notes to 9. — Fide " A Path- 
way to Musick," obi. 8vo. The virginals was a keyed 
instrument of one string to each note like a spinet, but 
in shape resembling a small piano-forte. 

Page 90. — Spanish Sospires, &c. 
Laneham gives in this passage a specimen of making 
love in the various languages in which he was skilled. 
Suspiro, in the Spanish tongue, signifies a very deep sigh ; 
He, in the French, expresses the emotions of the soul in 
love ; Dolce, in Italian, means dear or beloved ; and in 
Dutch, Boo/skied is the word for courtship. 



London : 
Printed by S. and It. BENTLEY, Dorset-street, Salisbury-square. 



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